Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said she hopes that members of the European Political Community (EPC) will work to prevent Russia circumventing sanctions imposed because of the Kremlin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
She made the comments in Bulboaca, Moldova, ahead of the EPC Summit on Thursday.
The prevention of sanctions evasion is part of the EU's 11th sanctions package, but Marin noted that countries not in the European Union are also needed to prevent sanction circumventions.
"We cannot do it alone as members of the European Union, we need broader joint support," Marin said.
The EPC was established as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.
Zelensky: Ukraine needs Nato and jets
Addressing the summit on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine should become a member of Nato, urging members of the alliance to make a clear decision about whether to allow Ukraine to join, according to Reuters.
Zelensky also repeated requests for Western fighter jets for use in defending against Russia's attacks, the news service added.
According to the summit's website, the EPC "is a platform for political coordination among European countries across the continent. It aims to promote political dialogue and cooperation to address issues of common interest and to strengthen the security, stability, and prosperity of the European continent,"
Forty-seven heads of state and government as well as other European leaders were invited to the one-day summit. The EPC's first meeting was held last year in Prague, Czechia.
According to the summit's organisers, leaders will examine three main topics this year.
The topics include: joint efforts for peace and security; energy resilience and climate action; and interconnections in Europe for a better connected and more stable continent.
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