Main Points
- Parts of Dublin will come to a near-standstill today as security ramps up for two major EU summits in the city centre on Thursday and Friday
- Political leaders will discuss the war in Ukraine and other major issues
- World leaders from across Europe will meet for the European Political Community summit later today in the Convention Centre Dublin
- A security zone has been in force around the convention centre from Tuesday morning with no cycling, walking or vehicular access permitted
- A formal dinner will be held in the National Gallery of Ireland this evening
- An informal meeting of heads of state or government of the EU will take place on Friday in the convention centre
Key Reads
- Dublin road closures: See full list of disruptions
- Bobby McDonagh: The traffic chaos is temporary. What happens this week in Dublin could have lasting impact
- Zelenskiy says there is ‘window’ for Russia peace deal ahead of Dublin talks
- Ireland in talks to use Ukrainian drone technology for maritime security
- Inside Politics newsletter: Stars finally align as strikes averted before showcase Dublin meeting
Media ready for European leaders
Our Europe Correspondent Jack Power is among the journalists waiting for European leaders at the Convention Centre.
Which European leaders are expected in Dublin?
Around 50 European leaders are expected the the Convention Centre for the EPC.
This will include French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Dublin on Wednesday evening.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham will also be in Dublin along with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney.
The meeting will be chaired by the president of the European Council António Costa, while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will also play an important role.
Burnham is expected to co-chair a security and defence roundtable, attend a Ukraine meeting and hold a series of bilateral talks.
The theme of the summit is ‘Europe – strong, secure and connected’.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are currently in Moscow to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin. They will touch down in Dublin later to brief Zelenskiy in ongoing peace efforts relating to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ireland in talks to use Ukrainian drone technology for maritime security
Ireland is in talks to use drone technology from Ukraine for maritime security, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Following a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Dublin on Wednesday, the Taoiseach said the Department of Defence is exploring a joint memorandum with its Ukrainian counterpart on drone manufacturing and technology.
He said this was given Ukrainian expertise in unmanned drones, with Ireland able to avail of Ukrainian technology for unmanned drones which could be used for maritime security, Jack Horgan-Jones reports.
Garda drones at Convention Centre
Garda drones will be deployed in the vicinity of the Convention Centre to support the policing and security operation.
Gardaí said the drones will be active in the area until after the policing operation has ended.
The ninth meeting of the European Political Community is the largest diplomatic event in Irish history.
Traffic disruption
Travelling around Dublin will be difficult today.
The policing and security operation is the largest undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the history of the State.
For a full list of the road closures around the city, click here.
Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Moscow for Putin meeting
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have arrived at Moscow airport for their meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, ahead of travelling to Dublin.
Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev shared a picture of their arrival, captioned: “Welcoming Steve and Jared to Moscow.”
Donald Trump’s envoys will arrive in Dublin later today where they will brief Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Huge security operation gets under way
Fifty heads of state are gathering in Dublin today to discuss the war in Ukraine and other major issues.
The biggest security operation in the history of the State has been mounted in Dublin as Taoiseach Micheál Martin hosts the ninth meeting of the European Political Community.
It is part of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union
We will bring you all the news from these events here today.
Peace talks
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last night he believes there is a “window of opportunity” to make progress on peace talks with Russia before the end of the year.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to fly into Dublin later today to brief Zelenskiy, having travelled from talks in Abu Dhabi to Moscow, where they were to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.
