BRUSSELS, February 3. /TASS/. Leaders of EU countries will discuss strengthening the union's defense and increasing spending on it in response to the conflict in Ukraine, hybrid and cyber threats, as well as instability in the Middle East at an informal summit in Brussels.
Besides, the heads of state and government intend to pay special attention to relations with the United States under President Donald Trump, a senior EU official told journalists in Brussels.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have also been invited to the informal EU summit.
Initially, the meeting was scheduled to take place in the format of a so-called retreat at a fortress near the Belgian city of Liege. According to the head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, such "seclusion" was intended to allow EU leaders to communicate freely and frankly. However, the European Council later moved the venue of the summit to the Egmont Palace, a conference center in Brussels. This decision was made after reassessing the measures necessary to ensure security.