Leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states are set to gather in Brussels on Thursday to deliberate on intensifying sanctions against Russia, strategies to avoid new U.S. tariffs, and the bloc’s role in ongoing Middle East conflicts.

The meeting follows a high-stakes NATO summit, where most EU leaders pledged increased defense spending and made efforts to smooth over tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to join the summit virtually, a day after holding talks with Trump. Although NATO has recently scaled back its prioritization of Ukraine, the EU continues to view Russia’s invasion of the country as a central concern.

The summit will review a proposed 18th package of sanctions targeting Russia and debate whether to uphold a price cap on Russian oil — a measure that has drawn criticism from some member states over fears it could drive up energy costs.

Trump’s renewed threat of tariffs is also a major worry for the EU, which handles trade negotiations collectively on behalf of its members. On Wednesday, Trump criticized Spain over defense spending and hinted at additional tariffs, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to push back, accusing him of risking a trade war with allies.

The EU will also address the worsening crises in the Middle East and explore ways to reinvigorate diplomatic talks with Iran regarding its nuclear activities.

However, internal divisions persist. EU member states remain split over how to approach Israel amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, left-leaning parties have criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for shifting focus from climate policy to defense spending.

Security and defense issues are expected to dominate the discussions. The summit will conclude with a formal statement outlining the EU’s priorities for the next four months — a key indicator of the bloc’s collective stance on pressing global and regional challenges.