EU summit: Leaders to discuss Ukraine, global issues

EU summit: Leaders to discuss Ukraine, global issues June 18, 2026What you need to know - The two-day summit is to focus on three topics: supporting Ukraine, the EU’s next long-term budget, and global economic challenges - A reception for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to kick off the meeting - The leaders also plan to discuss the challenging commercial relationship between the EU and China Here is a roundup of the major news and analysis from the June 18 and 19 European Union summit. Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. EU leaders to discuss trade imbalance with China At their summit in Brussels, European Union leaders are expected to discuss new, tougher measures needed to curb the bloc's growing trade deficit with China and its reliance on rare earths and other critical supplies from the country. According to Reuters, EU diplomats say there is a gradual convergence of views among the 27 EU members that the goods trade deficit with China is problematic. The deficit now amounts to approximately €1 billion ($1.15 billion) per day. The situation is more critical given that transatlantic tariffs are diminishing access to the US market. In 2025, China's goods trade surplus with the EU reached €360.6 billion, marking a 15% increase from 2024. Additionally, it expanded by 10% in the first four months of this year, driven by increased sales to the EU and reduced imports by Chinese firms. Welcome to our coverage Welcome to DW's coverage of the two-day summit of European Union leaders in Brussels, which is expected to focus on support for Ukraine, the EU’s next long-term budget, and global economic challenges. The summit is expected to begin with a reception for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It will mark his first visit to Brussels since Viktor Orban, the former Hungarian prime minister and Zelenskyy's most prominent opponent within the EU, was voted out of office earlier this year. On Thursday, EU leaders are expected to discuss some of the bloc's most pressing challenges, including its declining competitiveness, as well as broader global issues such as its strained commercial relationship with China. The following day, they are planning to focus on the EU's next long-term budget, which is expected to be between €1 trillion ($1.15 trillion) and €2 trillion and will cover the period from 2028 to 2034.