The European Union is holding a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss a range of hot-button issues, ranging from the Russian Ukrainian war to the fall of the regime in Syria, the continuation of protests in Georgia, then the immigration file, and of course the return of US President Donald Trump to power.
The meeting, chaired for the first time by Antonio Costa, and absent from it by French President Emmanuel Macron, puts Ukraine as a priority on the agenda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to deliver a speech asking for additional military support and tougher sanctions against Russia.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in the presence of a number of European leaders yesterday evening, Zelensky noted that his country needs more than a dozen air defense systems, which are necessary to protect Ukrainian cities and power plants from continuous Russian bombing.
“It is a very good opportunity to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine today and tomorrow,”the Ukrainian leader added, standing next to Rutte.
“It is very important that we use these two days in Brussels to meet with all our partners, to agree on a common position of Europe on how to secure Ukraine, How to strengthen us and our people, “he said.
The Brussels summit comes at a sensitive time for Kiev, due to the advance of Russian troops in the East, which are receiving support from North Korea, according to Ukrainian claims.
Besides Ukraine, the EU will discuss the implications of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, amid fears that he will push Kiev to make military concessions in exchange for peace.
On the other hand, the EU is studying the Republican leader’s threats to impose comprehensive tariffs on foreign goods, as restrictions could push the bloc into further economic stagnation.
Along with the previous issues, a lengthy discussion will be held on Syria and the transition of power in it after 24 years of Bashar al-Assad’s rule, especially after the European Union opened the first channels of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
The heads of state and government will also touch upon the protests in Georgia after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze unilaterally announced the suspension of membership talks until 2028.
