EU leaders in Brussels tackle energy crisis, budget, and Ukraine support

European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels today to discuss measures to curb energy prices, negotiate the next EU budget, and address financial support for Ukraine. The summit, running until Friday afternoon, faces pressure over energy costs and divisions among member states on the budget. Leaders will ask the Commission for more energy measures, including optimizing refinery capacity and aggregating demand, while reviewing a proposal with 8% cuts. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro attends, demanding nearly €1 billion extra for the Azores and Madeira, threatening to block a deal. On Friday, leaders will host President Zelensky to discuss support for Kyiv and hybrid threats from Russia.