The European Council will discuss today the issues of defense, Ukraine, migration, the EU budget and the situation in the Middle East, according to the meeting's agenda, BTA reported.
It is possible that the heads of state and government of the EU countries will continue the talks tomorrow.
The European Council is expected to familiarize itself with the White Paper on Defense, presented yesterday by the European Commission. It is expected to discuss the latest developments surrounding the possibility of peace negotiations in Ukraine. The EU is ready to fully participate with support for the next steps, together with Ukraine, the US and other partners, the meeting documents state.
The European Council will also discuss the need for the EU to gain strategic autonomy, especially in the areas of energy, metallurgy and car manufacturing. Views will be exchanged on the next multiannual European budget, including on budget revenues and their compliance with the set targets.
Talks will continue on the issue of migration, related to the EC proposal to set up remote centres for foreigners without the right to stay in the EU. The European Council will discuss the growing tensions in the Middle East, including the latest events in Gaza and Syria.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been invited to participate in the talks.
London welcomes "the progress made by Trump on the ceasefire agreement" in Ukraine, a British government spokesman said, quoted by DPA and BTA.
The statement was issued after the US president's conversation with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. After the consultations, Zelensky expressed confidence that "a lasting peace can be achieved this year" and added that Ukraine is ready to adhere to the cessation of attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure.
"We welcome the progress that President Trump has made on the ceasefire agreement, and we will continue to work with international partners to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position", the British government spokesman said. "We must now ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart agreed on Tuesday to work towards a limited ceasefire on energy and infrastructure sites, but air strikes continued, DPA noted.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last night and congratulated him on the ceasefire talks in Ukraine, which are taking place in Jeddah.
"The two leaders agreed that securing a just and lasting peace is in everyone's interest, and both look forward to seeing progress when the talks resume on Sunday," a British government spokesman said. "We welcome President Trump's efforts to secure a ceasefire (...), but it is also disappointing that Putin did not agree to a full, immediate ceasefire without conditions, as Ukraine did", he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb met with leaders of Finnish companies from the defense industry, mining, energy and telecommunications, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA.
Zelensky thanked Finnish companies for their support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. Zelensky stressed that Finland's experience in the defense industry is of great importance for Ukrainian arms production.
The main topic of the meeting was the expansion of cooperation to strengthen the production capacity of the defense sectors of Ukraine and Finland.
Earlier, Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries German Smetanin discussed with Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Haakonen the prospects for opening production facilities of Finnish companies in Ukraine.