Heads of the European Union’s 27 member states will convene on Thursday, June 26, in Brussels to discuss tougher sanctions on Russia, strategies to avoid new US tariffs, and a more unified EU voice on conflicts in the Middle East.
The summit follows a tense NATO meeting where European leaders agreed to increase defense spending while smoothing over some differences with US President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the EU summit via video link after his meeting with Trump on Wednesday. Despite Ukraine being downgraded from a top priority at NATO talks, its war with Russia remains a primary concern for European leaders.
EU leaders will also weigh up an 18th round of sanctions on Russia and debate whether to maintain a price cap on Russian oil — a move some member states fear could drive up energy prices.
The summit comes as Trump’s threats to introduce new tariffs on European exports raise tensions. On Wednesday, Trump criticized Spain for not spending enough on defense and hinted at further tariffs. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Trump’s protectionist rhetoric, calling it damaging to long-standing alliances.
Amid fears of regional spillover from Middle East conflicts, EU leaders aim to revive stalled diplomatic negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Internal divisions persist on key foreign policy issues, especially Europe’s position on Israel and the war in Gaza. Left-leaning parties have also pushed back against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s shift from climate policies toward increased military spending.
The summit will conclude with a formal statement setting the EU’s agenda for the next four months — an outcome closely watched as an indicator of Europe’s political mood on pressing international and security matters.