PRAGUE: Leaders from about 44 countries gathered on Thursday to launch a 'European Political Community' aimed at boosting security and economic prosperity across the continent, with Russia the one major European power not invited.

The meeting in the Czech Republic's capital Prague is the brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron and is backed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It was taking place amid the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, and as pressure builds to allow Ukraine to join the European Union.