Europe live: EU heads meet as Belgian and Czech leaders condemn Russian meddling in elections | European Union

Lisa O’Carroll

Russia has pivoted as much as 30% of its GDP into the war economy, compared to 2% being put into the defence in Ukraine by western allies, a senior NATO official has said.

James Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary general for Innovation, hybrid and Cyber NATO, told the European Aerospace, Security and Defence (ASD) annual summit in Brussels on Wednesday that “factories are running around the clock”, with an estimated 2.5% of the 144m strong Russian population now in the weapons manufacturing industry.

The estimates come as the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, urged G7 nations to intensify defence efforts in Ukraine.

The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh reported the local mayor in Kharkiv warning that the city was at risk of becoming “a second Aleppo” unless US aid was released.

The Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo, and the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, have written a joint letter raising concerns about Russian interference in electoral processes in Europe.

The latest draft conclusions, seen by the Guardian, include strong language on Iran.

“The European Council strongly and unequivocally condemns the Iranian attack on Israel and reiterates its full solidarity with the people of Israel and commitment to Israel’s security and to regional stability.”

The leaders are expected to add:

“The European Council calls on Iran and its proxies to cease all attacks and urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region. The European Union will take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles. The European Union remains fully committed to contributing to de-escalation and security in the region.”

Lisa O’Carroll

Earlier today, European home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson came close to tears as the spoke at a gathering marking the second anniversary of the imprisonment of Swedish EU diplomat Johan Floderus.

Recalling his disappearance and the confirmation he had been detained by the Iranian authorities, Yohansson said they found out he was “was in prison for imaginary crimes” that “he is kept in a small cell in inhumane conditions”.

“Johan was part of my cabinet, my team for almost two years and I can’t believe he has been in this prison for a longer time than he was a member of my cabinet,” she said.

She described him as “one of the brightest stars” in her office, someone who was able to “calm” others down in times of stress. When he left to go to the Afghan desk in the external services arm of the EU he was realising his dream.

“Now his dream has turned into a nightmare. In my team we talk a lot about Johan, we have done so now for two years, almost on a weekly basis, we miss him so much, we talk about a lot of happy moments, We laugh a lot when we talk about Johan, but we also cry because we miss him. We just want him to come back,” she said.

She said she was working closely with Sweden which is fighting for his release from Teheran. “We condemn his imprisonment and demand his release”.

Lisa O’Carroll

Further restrictive measures against Iran following Tehran’s attack on Israel will be discussed over dinner tonight when the EU’s leaders meet in Brussels.

On the table are potential measures to impose sanctions on Iran’s missile and drone programmes as well as Russia-style sanctions on individuals or companies that support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

Sanctions on individuals, diplomats said ahead of the meeting, would be about making “life difficult” for Iranians involved but also their proxies whether in Iraq, Lebanon or Yemen or Sudan.

Also on the table is the mechanism – do they extend the Russia sanctions to cover Iran or do they start afresh?

Diplomats say sanctions could be politically agreed within “one and a half or two weeks” but that the purpose of tonight’s discussion is to determine the appetite for the two types of sanctions.

Germany, France and the UK have already backed a proposal to extend an existing sanctions regime.

The draft conclusions before the leaders is a declaration saying the EU is “ready to take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles”.

If agreed it will also call on “Iran and its proxies to cease all attacks that may increase tensions in the region”.

Lisa O’Carroll

David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, is urging G7 partners to step up support for Ukraine amid fears of a deteriorating situation in the country.

He is currently travelling to Italy for the G7 foreign ministers meeting.

“Ukraine has our unequivocal support until it is victorious and achieves a just peace. It is vital that we agree a way forward to use sanctioned Russian assets to support Ukraine and ensure Russia pays for the destruction it has wreaked,” he said.

The foreign and commonwealth office in the UK said it would call for the G7 to pilot more ambitious efforts to undermine Russia’s defence industrial complex.

Simon Harris, Ireland’s new leader, said he will be repeating a “call for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of aid to the people of Gaza” during the European Council meeting.

“I will also continue to discuss the recognition of Palestine with like-minded partners,” he noted.

Harris added:

Ireland will use its voice to call for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza & restraint & deescalation in the region after Iran’s reckless attack on Israel.

Also look forward to engaging with counterparts on competitiveness & the single market

At their meeting, leaders will discuss a report by Enrico Letta, a former Italian prime minister.

“It is time to craft a new compass to guide the Single Market in this complex international scenario. Powerful forces of change – spanning demographics, technology, economics, and international relations – necessitate innovative and effective political responses,” Letta wrote.

“Given the ongoing crises and conflicts, action has become urgent, particularly as the window of opportunity to intervene and relaunch the European economy risks closing in the near future.”

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president and the centre-right European People’s party lead candidate in the European elections, has reiterated today her call for strengthening Europe’s defences – and “turbo charging our defence industrial capacity.”

Von der Leyen wants Europe to spend more on defence, and to spend it in Europe.

Leaders from the EU’s 27 member states will meet in Brussels today and tomorrow.

In his invitation letter, the European Council president, Charles Michel, said “our upcoming meeting will centre on bolstering our competitiveness” but that “topics of foreign policy will also feature high on our agenda.”

“We must collectively bridge the growth and innovation divide vis-a-vis our global counterparts and safeguard our economic, industrial and technological base,” Michel said.

When it comes to Ukraine, he said leaders “will address Russia’s persistent attacks on Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure, including in the energy sector. These underscore the urgency of intensifying our delivery of military assistance, notably air defence capabilities.”

Addressing the situation in the Middle East, he said:

Our commitment to work with partners to end the tragic crisis in Gaza with an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, as well as an urgent increase of unimpeded humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza, remains crucial.

Developments over the weekend have exacerbated an already highly volatile situation in the region.

We must condemn the recent attack by Iran against the people of Israel and unite in urging all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, respect international law, and avoid action that may increase tensions.

We must also address the situation in Lebanon, acknowledging the challenging circumstances it is facing, and reiterate our strong support at this critical time.

Good afternoon and welcome to a special edition of the Europe blog.

Today we will be looking at a gathering of EU leaders in Brussels.

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