London (Parliament News) – Volodymyr Zelenskiy is hoping to travel to the UK next week to preach to European leaders at Blenheim Palace who are assembling to discuss Ukraine, European security and democracy.
How Significant is Zelenskiy’s First Trip to Ireland?
Volodymyr Zelenskiy will also make his first journey to Ireland on Saturday morning when he touches down at Shannon Airport, Co Clare, for a discussion with the Irish taoiseach, Simon Harris. Ireland, which has a longstanding approach of military neutrality but is presenting non-lethal aid such as the discharge of landmines to Ukraine through the EU, is anticipated to offer more backing to Ukraine’s efforts to return an assessed 20,000 children, who have been forcibly migrated to Russia and Belarus.
The Ukrainian president met Keir Starmer last week at the NATO summit in Washington, but this would be his first possibility to meet a wider delegation of the Labour government, who will be enthusiastic to reiterate the UK’s continued support. His travel agreements are rarely confirmed but a source stated it is “90% certain” Zelenskiy will be there.
Thursday’s meeting is the fourth meeting of the European Political Community, a collective established after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and was the brainchild of the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
Will UK’s Hosting of European Leaders Restore International Confidence?
It is being noticed as a “very significant” opportunity for Starmer to not just host up to 50 European heads but to restore confidence in the UK and offer the world the country is back on the international scene after years of reputational damage caused by Brexit.
The EPC was developed to facilitate the strengthening of relations between EU and non-EU leaders in an informal setting, with previous meetings held in Spain, Moldova and the Czech Republic. Apart from the UK, non-EU nations including Norway, Iceland, Georgia, Kosovo, Serbia, Albania and Turkey are invited, though it is apprehended that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president who did not observe previous summits, has not confirmed participation.
How Starmer’s Leadership Impacts UK-EU Relations Post-Brexit?
As host Starmer will preach the opening plenary session, which will be held in one of the halls in Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. He is anticipated to underline the UK’s obligation to Ukraine and Zelenskiy, and to resetting the country’s post-Brexit association with the EU. The prime minister has already promised to establish closer ties with the EU, and the new minister for European considerations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, travelled to Brussels for an introductory session with the former Brexit negotiator Maroš Šefčovič on Monday.
Starmer stated: “Europe is at the forefront of some of the most significant challenges of our time. “Russia’s barbaric war persists to reverberate across our continent, while vile smuggling gangs traffic innocent people on perilous journeys that too often end in tragedy.
“I stated I would change the way the UK encounters with our European partners, operating collaboratively to drive forward advance on these generational challenges, and that work begins at the European Political Community meeting on Thursday.”