Prime Minister Robert Abela will skip campaigning on Thursday and will instead attend an urgent EU meeting on the situation in Ukraine, according to reports.

The PM was scheduled to address a political activity in Birzebbugia, but will have to miss it due to the 8pm Brussels meeting.

Senior Maltese government officials confirmed with Times of Malta that Abela will meet other leaders to discuss how “we deal with Russia notably holding Russia accountable for its actions”.

The invitation to attend the urgent meeting, by EU Council Charles Michel, reads: “The aggressive actions by the Russian Federation violate international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. They also undermine the European security order.”

The Maltese Foreign Ministry yesterday condemned Russia’s decision to recognise two rebel-held areas in Ukraine. Abela told journalists on Wednesday that he agrees with the EU position on the matter.