EU leaders look to deepen relations with former Soviet republics

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen greets Georgia’s prime minister Irakli Garibashvili (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool Photo via AP)

As tensions with Russia simmer, European Union leaders met on Wednesday with their counterparts from five former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, with an eye toward deepening political, trade, energy and cultural ties.

The EU’s Eastern Partnership includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.