Croatia threatens to veto Montenegro's European Union membership unless the Balkan nation addresses war crimes prosecutions, compensates former prisoners, and resolves maritime disputes, exemplifying how member states increasingly weaponize veto power for political leverage.
Ten countries adopted the Kyiv Declaration reinforcing security cooperation and reconstruction support for Ukraine, condemning Russian aggression and pledging intensified sanctions, air defense assistance, and recovery aid.
Bosnia and Croatia signed a gas pipeline agreement in April to enhance energy security and reduce Russian dependence, despite civil society warnings about locking the region into fossil fuel reliance and governance transparency concerns.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu attended Kiev's fifth Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit, where leaders signed the Kiev Declaration supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, condemning Russian aggression, and calling for increased sanctions to cut Russia's war funding.
Croatia signed a US-backed deal with Energy Secretary Chris Wright to expand Balkan gas infrastructure, risking long-term fossil fuel dependence and conflicting with EU climate objectives amid Russia sanctions compliance.
EU's Cyprus summit without Viktor Orbán revealed that his obstruction masked deeper structural divisions over Ukraine membership, energy policy, and budgets, while Russia attempted staged protests to undermine European unity and Ukraine support.
President Zelensky secured commitments from Southeast European leaders on strengthened security cooperation, tougher Russian sanctions, and EU integration support during the fifth Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Ukraine cede territory for peace and EU membership, triggering backlash from Kyiv and European allies while exposing deepening divisions within the EU bloc over Ukraine's future status and integration timelines.