Brussels, 22 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) — US President Joe Biden's announcement that he is withdrawing from the presidential race is expected to dominate a meeting on Monday of EU foreign ministers, amid concern across much of Europe at the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency.

The main topics scheduled for Monday's regular meeting are the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, however Biden's historic decision is likely to overshadow the Brussels talks.

Biden's announcement that he would not run for a second term came on Sunday, throwing his Democratic Party into upheaval as they scramble to nominate a candidate who can take on Republican rival Donald Trump on November 5.

Relations between the European Union and the United States soured under Trump's first presidency, and fears are rife across much of the bloc that a second Trump term could have far-reaching consequences for the war in Ukraine, global trade and European security in general.

Not all EU capitals share these concerns, however, with the bloc undergoing a political shift to the right - exemplified in last months European Parliament elections.

Initial reactions on Sunday evening included Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the one hand, who praised Biden on X for his "many difficult decisions thanks to which Poland, America and the world are safer, and democracy stronger."

At the other end of the spectrum, Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom, reposted a tweet showing Trump with his fist raised following last week's assassination attempt, alongside the words "President Trump" and a flexed biceps emoji.

Attention will likely also focus on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who met Trump earlier this month in a flurry of diplomacy that also included visits to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hungary took over the EU's rotating presidency in July, but top EU officials and fellow leaders have distanced themselves from Orbán's self-proclaimed "peace mission."

Separately, Hungary is under pressure to lift its veto on the release of funds to support Ukraine's war effort.

The foreign ministers are due to discuss the EU's support to Ukraine, as well as the damage done to the country's energy infrastructure, which has come under attack from Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba plans to participate in the meeting by video link.

The talks are also expected to turn to the humanitarian situation in Gaza amidst the Israel-Hamas war, as well as rising tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon.