French President Emmanuel Macron has seen the Russian invasion of Ukraine threaten security, energy and food. In May, he pitched the idea of a community stretching across the continent. Now, leaders of what's being called the European Political Community met for the first time on Thursday in Prague.

Officials from the 27 countries in the European Union welcomed those from 17 others including Ukraine, which is waiting to join the EU.

Macron said the objective of the gathering was to share a common understanding of the situation affecting Europe. He added that leaders can build a common strategy through dialogue which, until now, "did not really exist" and could lead to divisions.

The leaders agreed on more military support for Ukraine, though they still need to work out the details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering online from Kyiv, saying they have an opportunity "to restore peace in Europe."

He said Russia wants to redraw borders to divide the world into "zones of influence," destroying their "common space of cooperation and development."

British Prime Minister Liz Truss leads the only country to have left the EU. She says she joined the meeting not to move "closer to Europe" but to work with others to tackle rising energy costs.

The leaders did not emerge with a statement. They say just the fact that so many from like-minded democracies came together sends a message.