They are expected to announce the doubling of the number of Ukrainian troops to be trained by the EU member states to 30,000 this year, with 25 million euros for to be earmarked to Help Ukraine de-mine those areas recaptured by Ukraine.
This is the first EU-Ukraine summit since the start of the Russian invasion, and also since the European Council granted Ukraine the status of candidate country.
The leaders will also discuss:
- Ukraine’s European path and the accession process
- the EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
- Ukraine’s initiatives for just peace and accountability
- cooperation on issues of reconstruction and relief and in the areas of energy and connectivity
- global food security
The matter of Ukraine’s EU accession will be high on the agenda, however the EU itself appears to be prevaricating on the issue: whilst concerns over Ukraine’s stewardship of much anticipated western aid for re-building the nation’s infrastructure remain valid the EU is also calling for more progress in addressing climate concerns and social issues.
“The EU will decide on further steps once all conditions … are fully met. Ukraine underlined its determination to meet the necessary requirements in order to start accession negotiations as soon as possible,” the Commission is expected to announce.
Ukraine’s calls for long-range rockets or fighter jets are expected to be left unanswered by the summit.
