EU Leaders to Hold Two-Day Summit in Brussels; Merkel Proposes Inviting Putin

The central theme of the EU leaders' summit set to take place in Brussels on June 24 will be the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming its consequences, as reported by TASS.

EU leaders will specifically discuss issues related to the vaccination progress, the issuance of vaccination certificates, as well as the increased dangers posed by new variants of the coronavirus.

Another agenda item will address the future of relations with Russia, based on the report presented by European Council President Charles Michel in Moscow on June 16.

On the eve of the meeting, the British Financial Times reported, citing diplomatic sources, that German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the meeting of EU leaders, a proposal that was also endorsed by French President Emmanuel Macron. A decision on this matter will be made at today's summit.