Two-day European Council meeting underway in Brussels

Croatia continues to provide military aid to Ukraine and will keep doing so in the future, having in mind that it itself experienced a war of aggression three decades ago, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Brussels on Thursday.

EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day European Council meeting to discuss further military support to Ukraine, the competitiveness of the EU economy in relation to the United States and China, the internal market, energy and illegal migration.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the European Union remained united. "We act together and in solidarity. This is something that the Russian president never had in mind, that support for Ukraine would be so decisive and for so long. We are ready to support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary."

"It is important to speed up European capabilities when it comes to military equipment," said Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. "One of the topics will be the increase of our capabilities in the procurement and production of weapons and, for example, ammunition. I think it was a very important decision, made earlier this week, that we will provide Ukraine with more ammunition, which they really need every day," she added.

In their conclusions, the member states' leaders will also address the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue on the normalisation of relations under the EU's auspices.

Plenković said that Croatia would support all efforts leading to peace, stabilisation, cooperation and normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.