The Ukraine – Southeast Europe Summit
Ukraine’s air defense capabilities remain a priority, leaders at the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit say.
Leyla Cheamil, 16.07.2026, 14:00
Romanian President Nicușor Dan took part on Wednesday in the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit, a format launched in 2023 in response to Russia’s war against neighboring Ukraine. The platform aims to support the country under attack and address both the consequences of the war and its broader impact on the region.
Meeting in the Ukrainian capital, the participating leaders, with the exception of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, signed the Kyiv Declaration, emphasizing that strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities remains a priority, particularly through the provision of systems and interceptors capable of countering ballistic missiles. “We support the mobilization of the financial resources and international mechanisms required for this purpose, recognizing that stronger air defense saves lives and protects critical infrastructure,” the signatories said.
The 20-point declaration reaffirms support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. The signatories once again stressed that these universal principles are the foundation of peace, security, stability and prosperity in Europe. They also highlighted the interdependence between the security of Ukraine, the Black Sea region, and Southeast Europe. The participants also strongly condemned Russia’s illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and called on Russia to end the war immediately.
Speaking in Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the signing of an agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on drone production. She said the initiative would combine Ukrainian ingenuity with Europe’s industrial capacity to establish secure production facilities.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said that all participants at the Kyiv summit agreed that the war in Ukraine affects European security. He also announced that discussions focused on regional connectivity. “In the energy sector, both with Moldova and Ukraine, Romania has made significant progress in strengthening connectivity,” the president said.
He added that participants also discussed the military need for a corridor linking the Aegean Sea with Odessa and Moldova. “We also discussed the European Union accession process for both Moldova and Ukraine, and Romania’s expertise, which it is ready to share in this context,” the Romanian president added.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Nicușor Dan held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on coordination of drone incident prevention and early warning mechanisms. He also met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. (EE)
