On October 16, 2026, in Brussels, a joint statement was issued by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European Council President António Costa. The statement was timed to coincide with the upcoming European Council meeting—one of the EU's key institutions that determines the bloc's overall political direction and priorities. In her remarks, von der Leyen noted that the presence of the Ukrainian leader at such meetings has become standard practice, thereby emphasizing the continued close cooperation between Kyiv and European institutions. According to her, this demonstrates the strength of relations between Ukraine and the European Union amid ongoing challenges. The details of the statement itself and the specific agenda for the upcoming European Council summit have not yet been fully disclosed. It is expected that European leaders will discuss a number of issues related to supporting Ukraine, as well as other topical matters of European policy and economics during the meeting. Zelenskyy's participation in European Council meetings in recent years has become a regular element of Ukraine's interaction with EU institutions, reflecting the country's ongoing process of integration into European structures amid its military conflict with Russia. Such meetings also serve as a platform for coordinating positions on issues of financial, military, and humanitarian aid to Kyiv. Official details on the outcomes of the European Council meeting are expected to be released after its conclusion.