EU, Africa leaders talk trade

European and African leaders gathered in Angola Monday for a summit to deepen economic and security ties that also presented the chance for emergency talks on Ukraine.

European Union chief Antonio Costa chaired an impromptu EU summit at a Luanda hotel in the morning, as Europe and Kyiv push to review a US proposal to end the Ukraine war seen as heavily favouring Moscow.

"While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the meeting, which followed Sunday talks between US, Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva.

EU leaders including Germany's Friedrich Merz and Poland's Donald Tusk then headed to a conference centre in the Angolan capital for a summit with their African counterparts.

South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo were among a stream of heads of state and government welcomed by host Joao Lourenco of Angola.