EU leaders discuss Ukraine, security and migration issues on second day of summit

Leaders of EU countries met on the second day of the ordinary summit meeting in Brussels.

The first session of the day will be devoted to the latest situation in Ukraine and the support to be provided to Kiev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also expected to attend the session.

While Russia's attacks intensify, Ukraine's air defense system, interceptor missile and financing needs are the priority topics of the talks.

It is stated that leaders may also discuss stricter measures against the "shadow fleet" that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions and visa restrictions for Russian citizens.

While an agreement was previously reached on EU financing for Ukraine for 2026, how the country's financing needs will be met in the following period is also on the agenda.

In this context, although there is a possibility that the issue of using frozen Russian assets will come to the agenda again, concrete progress is not expected in the short term.

Maritime security and the Middle East

In the sessions before lunch, leaders will discuss hybrid attacks originating from Russia, maritime security and developments in the Middle East.

The effects of the recent attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea on the sea route, which is critical for Ukraine's grain exports, are also on the agenda.

Under the title of the Middle East, leaders will discuss the consequences of the Iran-US war, Iranian attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, and the effects of the Houthis' renewed threats in the Red Sea on trade and energy flows.

The ship needs of the EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea and increasing the contributions of member countries to the mission are also among the issues to be discussed.

The Middle East agenda also includes developments in Iran, Yemen, the West Bank and Lebanon.

Immigration issue will be discussed at working lunch

At lunch, the leaders will discuss the issue of migration following the crisis in Septe, Spain's territory in North Africa.

Despite the decline in the arrival of irregular migrants, disagreements on the management of border crises, solidarity between member states and tightening of immigration controls continue.

In the first day sessions of the summit yesterday, the topics of competitiveness, the EU's future multi-annual financial framework, enlargement and reforms were discussed.