40 European leaders meet in Prague on the impact of the Russian nuclear threat and energy crisis

The leaders of the European Union countries will meet with their counterparts from outside the bloc, Thursday and Friday in Prague, to discuss "means of responding to the tragic repercussions of the Russian war in Ukraine," said European Council President Charles Michel.

More than 40 leaders from all over Europe are expected to come to Prague on Thursday to participate in the inaugural meeting of the "European Political Community" aimed at improving cooperation between European countries outside the EU borders, such as Britain, Turkey, countries of the Western Balkans and the Caucasus region.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyal is scheduled to attend in person, while President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to join via video link.

In addition to the broader economic problems, the leaders are scheduled to hold roundtable talks on climate change, the energy crisis, and the Russian war in Ukraine, which has entered a new turning point after Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions and threatened to use nuclear weapons when necessary.

"In a few days, we meet in Prague for two important events: the first meeting of the European Political Group on October 6, and the informal meeting of the European Council in The next day".

He said the leaders would discuss, among other things, ways to "respond to the tragic fallout of the Russian war in Ukraine".

bilateral encounters

On Friday, the 27 EU member states will hold an informal summit in Prague, and general discussions will be followed by bilateral meetings between leaders.

British Prime Minister Lise Terrace is scheduled to discuss immigration with the leaders of France and the Netherlands, according to a statement issued by her Foreign Office.

Representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan are expected to attend the meeting, so diplomatic efforts are continuing to facilitate a meeting between the two parties, an EU official told reporters in Brussels.

It was also announced in Turkey that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go today, Thursday, to the Czech capital, Prague, to attend the meeting of the European Political Community, where a series of bilateral meetings are scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the meeting.