On 15 July 2026, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, went to Kyiv, Ukraine, to participate in the South-East Europe Summit. During her visit, she met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, Nicușor Dan, President of Romania, Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, Bajram Begaj, President of Albania, Olena Zelenska, spouse of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bekim Sali, Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia, Velislava Petrova, Bulgarian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olexandr Mischenko, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olena Yalova, Director of the Directorate General for State Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada), Katarína Mathernová, Head of the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine, and Tetyana Berezhna, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister for Culture. She also took part in a tribute ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance, attended the presentation of the Order of Europe and participated in a joint press conference. The discussions focused on strengthening the EU–Ukraine strategic partnership, particularly in the areas of defence, security, the defence industry, Ukraine's EU accession process and preparations for winter.