Pelosi calls Croatia a key American ally and regional leader ahead of Crimea Platform in Zagreb

Croatia is a key American ally, a regional leader and NATO partner, said Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, after arriving in Zagreb ahead of the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform that gets underway on Tuesday.

Pelosi is highest US official to visit Croatia since 2015 when the then Vice President Joe Biden visited the country.

"It is my privilege to join our European allies and other partners from around the globe in Croatia to deliver an unmistakable statement of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people," Pelosi said.

She added that the Crimea Platform would also help to deepen the bonds between the United States and Croatia.

"This week, America joins our democratic partners to reaffirm our pledge to stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and to hold Russia accountable - until victory is won," Pelosi said after being received by Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković.

"I thank you Mr. Speaker and the Prime Minister for the hospitality you are extending to scores of countries participating virtually and more so here in person to discuss the important issue of democracy," said Pelosi.

Jandroković said after the meeting that the two expressed their strong support for the Ukrainian people and for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

"We expressed the belief that tomorrow's conference of the Crimean Platform will send a clear message of support to the Ukrainian people and that we will do everything so that Ukraine wins this war and the Russian aggressor is defeated," he added.

Forty-two delegations from 32 countries will arrive in Zagreb for the Parliamentary Summit. A further eleven countries have confirmed their participation by video message, including France, Hungary, Japan and Canada.

Also attending will be representatives of the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO.

The summit starts on Tuesday morning with opening remarks by Speaker Jandroković and his Ukrainian counterpart, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Those gathered will then be addressed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will speak via video-link.

Tuesday's summit is expected to end with a joint statement that will be presented by Jandroković and Stefanchuk.