Brussels 20.05.2025 Today the Foreign Affairs Council and will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Before entering the meeting she said the following at the doorstep:
The EU has approved its 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting nearly 200 shadow fleet ships.
New measures also address hybrid threats and human rights.
More sanctions on Russia are in the works.
The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) May 20, 2025
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“We are going to have a very intense day. First, we have the Foreign Affairs Council for Defence, where we are going to discuss the implementation of the White Paper. Then we will have the Foreign Affairs Council where we have [as] topics: Ukraine, Syria and the Middle East.
“First on Ukraine. I think it is important, as we have all said, 27 of us, that there has to be a full and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine has already agreed to this, 60 days, or more than 60 days, ago.
“We have agreed that if Russia does not agree – what we saw yesterday – then we will put more pressure. So, we will agree on the 17th package of sanctions today, but we continue working on the next strong package of sanctions to put more pressure on Russia so that they would also want peace.
“Then, on Syria I hope that we will agree on the lifting of economic sanctions today.
“Of course, there is going to be a very hard discussion on Gaza and what is happening there. The Dutch Minister has put forward a proposal to do the review of article two of our association agreement with Israel, and we will discuss this.
“I cannot predict the outcome of this discussion, but I think what is important – where we all have similar views – is that the humanitarian aid should reach Gaza as soon as possible. Of course, Israel’s decision to let some of the aid in is a drop in the ocean – it is welcomed, but it is not enough. There are thousands of trucks behind the borders waiting. It is European money that that has funded this humanitarian aid, and it has to reach the people because the situation is extremely grave”.
The Council’s morning session will convene EU Defence Ministers, followed by a session of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in the afternoon.
💬 #Zakharova: Anti-Russia sanctions are, contrary to their goal, undermining the European economy.
❗️The refusal to import Russian energy resources has led to economic stagnation in the Eurozone with GDP growth at just 0.9% and manufacturing down by 6%. pic.twitter.com/3BOpWh9J7P
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) May 20, 2025
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