EU Mulls Russia Sanctions, US Tariffs, Digital Tax

EU leaders gathered in Brussels for a one-day summit to address urgent geopolitical and economic challenges, such as Russia's war in Ukraine, US tariffs, and Middle East conflicts. The summit saw broad support for quickly reaching a trade agreement with the US, even if terms favor Washington, while the EU considers a digital tax on US tech giants as a potential countermeasure. Leaders discussed a possible 18th round of sanctions on Russia and whether to maintain a price cap on Russian oil, amid concerns over energy prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined via videoconference, reaffirming EU backing for Ukraine. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a divided EU response to Israel's actions were debated, with a recent review noting possible Israeli breaches of human rights. Additional topics included European defense, migration, competitiveness, and efforts to revive nuclear talks with Iran.