it may look peaceful, it is a public holiday today, but in truth this is a country which hasn t really been arty since that full scale invasion. it is a former soviet state, it is squished in between the eu and ukraine and whilst its government is very firmly west leaning, it wants tojoin the eu, it very firmly west leaning, it wants to join the eu, it does very firmly west leaning, it wants tojoin the eu, it does have very firmly west leaning, it wants to join the eu, it does have this region that is in the hands of pro russian separatists, and that still russian soldiers stationed there on the ground as a hangover from the soviet era in this part of the world. a lot of support for those people, ukraine s rather vulnerable looking neighbour. i m joined now by bruno lete, a seniorfellow at the german marshall fund. welcome to the programme. we had president zelensky again saying there s an urgent need to join nato.
artillery strikes. moscow says it came from ukrainian forces. translation: the selfless actions of the russian military repelled attacks, says the defence minister. they suffered significant losses. anti kremlin militants, made up of russians, crossed into russia. kyiv denied responsibility and hasn t commented today. in a more welcome border crossing, president zelensky is an moldova meeting his counterpart, as well as other leaders. his country s security is high on the agenda. high on the agenda. what is important. high on the agenda. what is important, our high on the agenda. what is important, our future - high on the agenda. what is important, our future in - high on the agenda. what is important, our future in the j high on the agenda. what is - important, our future in the eu, and important, ourfuture in the eu, and ukraine is ready to be in nato. we are waiting when nato will be ready to host and to have ukraine.
leaders remain united behind ukraine, and that they are very keen to support this country, moldova, which borders ukraine, about 20 kilometres from where those leaders are setting down. i think the leaders who gathered here today were conscious of that, not least because president zelensky was among them and speaking in very strong terms about what his country needs. his words reinforced by another night of bombardment on the city of kyiv. whilst many of these leaders have come here, and for this new forum, european leaders invited as well, to discuss all manner of challenges, mutual problems and issues they want to solve together. the whole summit has been overshadowed by what is happening just next door. moldova in itself is feeling rather vulnerable.