The rain is pouring down on the participants in Friday's European top meeting in Albania.
Criticism is also pouring down - against the Russian president.
It is clear that Russia does not want peace, says EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas and accuses Putin of "playing a game".
Putin knows that the ball is on his half. Putin made a mistake that sent a delegation at a low level, says NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
In the last few hours, we have seen clearly who is actually available for important steps towards peace and who is not, believes Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Zelenskyj on site
The available one - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj - is himself on site at the top meeting, which takes place within the framework of the loosely composed European Political Community (EPC).
From several of the participants here, calls are now being made for more sanctions and joint measures against Russia, since Putin was neither willing to agree to a 30-day ceasefire nor travel to Turkey to meet Zelenskyj.
We want peace, so we must increase the pressure on President Putin until he is ready, says EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
If there is no ceasefire, we will act together for sanctions. For me, it is clear that Putin does not want peace seriously. He is dragging his feet. Therefore, this is an important opportunity to work with our colleagues, says Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Next step?
No formal decisions are expected during the EPC meeting. Instead, it is seen as an important opportunity for leaders to discuss the next step more informally.
In the top meeting, not only heavy EU names such as Kallas and von der Leyen participate, but also Turkey's President Recep Erdogan, as well as Starmer, Zelenskyj, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and France's President Emmanuel Macron, among others.
Sweden is represented by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party).
