A meeting of the European Council has begun in Brussels, where Ukraine is expected to be granted candidate status to the European Union.

The meeting is attended by the heads of state and government of the EU member states and the leadership of European institutions - presidents of the European Council Charles Michel and the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

The European Council began with a one-hour delay because the morning meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkans lasted two hours longer than planned.

The meeting began with an exchange of views with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. On the eve of the meeting, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on EU leaders to immediately grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

After that, EU leaders will begin to consider the applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia for EU membership.