EU leaders will address Ukraine’s support needs and its progress toward EU membership at a summit in Brussels on October 15–16, European Council President António Costa announced in an invitation letter sent to the 27 heads of state on Thursday.
Costa stated that Ukraine remains a key priority, with leaders set to reaffirm the bloc’s continued support amid Russia’s escalating attacks on critical infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to brief leaders on the country’s operational needs ahead of winter. The agenda also includes an assessment of Ukraine’s accession progress, with Costa expressing hope that new negotiating clusters will have opened by the time of the meeting .
The summit will additionally review the EU’s response to Russia’s hybrid threats and advancing defense readiness, including efforts to address military capability gaps. Enlargement and reform will be discussed based on the European Commission’s communication on preparing for a wider union, with a focus on Montenegro’s accession treaty, which leaders aim to conclude by the end of the year .
Costa’s letter also outlined broader economic and competitiveness issues, including energy price relief and the EU’s long-term budget negotiations for 2028–2034, which he described as entering a decisive phase .
