BRUSSELS — The leaders from the European Union and six Gulf countries are convening for their first summit on Wednesday, amidst ongoing turmoil in the Middle East and challenges in reaching a unified stance on the Ukraine conflict.

This summit is anticipated to be brief, covering a range of topics including visa policies, trade agreements, and the overall situation in the Middle East. However, it is unlikely to produce more than vague agreements to enhance collaboration.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief of foreign affairs, stated the night before the summit, “Our message is clear: we are ready to act more and more together in facing common challenges.”

The EU, consisting of 27 member countries, has a long-standing relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprises Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.

However, EU nations are struggling to reach a consensus concerning Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah. Given this fragmentation, achieving a strong, unified statement with GCC leaders could prove to be quite challenging, according to officials who are well-acquainted with the upcoming dialogue.

Additionally, within the EU, there are varying opinions on relations with Russia and Ukraine. Countries like Hungary and Slovakia have significantly different perspectives on Moscow’s actions compared to most other EU members. Compounding these difficulties, several Gulf countries maintain stronger relations with Moscow than do EU nations.