European Union leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday, where they are expected to be joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

After addressing EU summits repeatedly by video link in recent months, Mr Zelensky’s visit would be his first trip to the Belgian capital since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

This is where he could raise topics like more and faster arms deliveries, support for Ukraine’s EU membership bid and his peace plan.

Mr Zelensky is also expected to visit the European Parliament on Thursday.

EU leaders are set to discuss Ukraine’s reconstruction and justice for war crimes committed in the country.

The EU summit was initially convened over high numbers of asylum requests and arrivals of irregular migrants to the bloc.

In 2022, authorities registered a 64 per cent increase in irregular border crossings compared to the previous year, according to EU border management agency Frontex.

Asylum applications rose by almost 50 per cent.

Additionally, around four million people have fled to the EU from Ukraine.

The rising numbers brought the issue of dealing with irregular migration back on top of the leaders’ agenda, with several EU countries calling for stricter measures, including EU-funded border fences.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer previously said he was ready to block the summit’s declaration if no concrete agreements are reached on tackling irregular migration.

EU leaders are also due to discuss the state of the bloc’s economy and how to improve the competitiveness of European industry, as well as political developments in Serbia and Kosovo. 

(dpa/NAN)