U.S. President Joe Biden is meeting NATO and EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, a show of trans-Atlantic unity exactly one month after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Mr Biden joined Western allies for a special meeting of NATO leaders, a G7 summit, and an EU leaders’ summit for talks on supporting the Ukrainian people, further punishing Russia, and the long-term changes necessary to ensure Europe’s security.

A proposal to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank with permanent troop deployments, supported by air and naval power, is still on the table.

The move would mark a violation of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and would likely escalate tensions with Russia.

A day before the meeting, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announced the deployment of four new battle groups to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia in response to Russia’s invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will address Mr Biden and the 29 other NATO leaders via video link and speak to the U.S. president and EU leaders later in the day.

The Ukrainian leader continues to push for establishing a no-fly zone to protect his country from Russian airstrikes, though NATO has repeatedly dismissed the request.

At the two-day EU leaders’ summit, Biden is to discuss U.S. support for the European Union as it seeks to end its dependency on Russian energy imports.

The White House said further sanctions on Russia would be announced in Brussels.

(dpa/NAN)