EU leaders are expected to reach an agreement today on how much co-operation the body should set up with Ukraine following disagreement last night among foreign ministers over the issue.
EU states, including Poland and Lithuania, are pushing for closer co-operation with Ukraine, while other countries led by France are urging caution.
Following the completion of presidential elections in Ukraine on St Stephen's Day and "provided the political conditions exist", an EU-Ukraine meeting will be set up to "lay the basis for more intensive co-operation".
The EU foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, will then put forward a way to strengthen co-operations with Ukraine.
A statement by EU leaders will stress "the strategic importance of Ukraine as a key neighbour and partner of the EU". The leaders will also state that the "EU aims at an enhanced and distinctive relationship".
EU states such as Poland and other new members are pushing for countries such as Ukraine and Albania to be given the prospect of joining the EU to encourage the development of their democracies.
France, however, sees it as a further dilution of EU political development.
Despite divisions between the EU and Russia over the handling of the Ukraine crisis initially, the leaders will welcome the current "close co-operation" with the various bodies, including Russia, in finding a political solution.
"It is now of utmost importance that the positive developments are sustained and that the Ukrainian electorate can now freely decide on the candidate of its own choice."
The leaders' statement will set out a commitment to try to get Belarus to join its European Neighbourhood Policy, which involves closer co-operation on trade, policing and includes EU subsidies, for countries geographically close to the EU which will not become members of the block.
The leaders will commit to supporting "the strengthening of civil society and the process of democratisation" in Belarus.
On the Middle East, the leaders will urge both parties to accelerate the implementation of the "road-map" and "re-launch a meaningful political process", ahead of Palestinian presidential elections on January 9th.
The leaders will voice their support for an independent Palestinian state to live side-by-side with Israel.
They are to commit to financial, technical and political support of these elections. The statement will reiterate EU support for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the northern West Bank.
The summit leaders will also back the work carried out by Britain, France and Germany on reaching an agreement with Iran over its suspension of uranium enrichment.
Leaders will confirm their readiness to "explore ways to develop political and economic co-operation with Iran".
Following divisions between the US and EU over Iraq, EU leaders will pledge the support of the EU to elections in Iraq next month and "to support the Iraqi authorities and people". Leaders will also include in their statement the need to strengthen dialogue with the US.
"The transatlantic partnership is irreplaceable," the statement will say, adding EU leaders looked forward to US President George Bush's visit to Europe next year.
The statement by EU leaders also requested the incoming EU presidency, to be held by Luxembourg, and Mr Solana to work on the preparations for a police mission and a "possible security sector reform mission" for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The statement will also mention a "possible integrated police, rule of law and civilian administration mission for Iraq".