Leaders from Ukraine, Britain and Turkey join EU counterparts on Thursday for an inaugural summit of the “European Political Community” aimed at bringing the continent together in the face of Russia’s aggression, France 24 reports
The gathering in Prague – a brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron – has been billed by Brussels as a “platform for political coordination” for the disparate 44 nations attending.
Those set to meet in the historic Prague Castle also include the leaders of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland.
Russia, which is not invited, will loom over the meeting as discussions focus on the economic and security fallout from its war against its pro-Western neighbour.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will connect via video link from Kyiv. His prime minister will stand in for him at the talks.
“Europe is facing its biggest crisis since the Second World War. And we have faced it together with unity and resolve,” British Prime Minister Liz Truss is set to tell fellow leaders.
“We must continue to stand firm to ensure that Ukraine wins this war, but also to deal with the strategic challenges that it has exposed.”
France has said it hopes to define potential room for cooperation among the leaders on protecting critical European infrastructure such as pipelines, cybersecurity and energy supplies.
EU officials expect to agree to hold a follow-up gathering of the community in six months’ time in a country outside the bloc, with Britain and Republic of Moldova both offering to host.