Zelensky Holds Bilateral Meetings at Yerevan EPC Summit; Washington Format Talks on Ukraine Security

On May 4, President Zelensky continued his participation in the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan, Armenia. He held bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, and Czech Republic, focusing on accelerating weapons deliveries, air defense reinforcement, and implementing the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine. A 'Washington Format' meeting was held on the sidelines — a diplomatic mechanism involving Ukraine, European allies, and US envoys to coordinate security guarantees and ceasefire-adjacent discussions. Zelensky used the summit to press allies on providing additional long-range missiles and air defense systems as Russia's drone campaign set wartime records in April 2026. The summit coincided with Russia's continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the Merefa missile strike that killed 6 civilians on the same day, reinforcing Ukraine's argument that diplomacy must be backed by military deterrence.