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EU Foreign Ministers to Meet in Brussels on Key Issues
(MENAFN) European Union foreign ministers gathered in Brussels on Monday to deliberate on a fresh wave of sanctions tied to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, while also tackling a wide-ranging foreign policy agenda stretching from the Middle East to the Western Balkans, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed.
Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Kallas delivered a pointed rebuke of Moscow's recent ceasefire declaration, dismissing it as a cynical political maneuver.
"We saw that this ceasefire that Putin wanted was only very cynical to protect his parade, whereas they were actually attacking civilians in Ukraine," she said.
Kallas further noted that Ukraine had honored previous ceasefire proposals while Russia pressed ahead with military operations — a contrast she framed as evidence of Moscow's bad faith.
A key item on the agenda involves sanctions targeting individuals implicated in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, paired with a high-level discussion on international efforts to secure their return.
Ministers are also set to receive Canada's foreign minister, with Kallas describing Canada as a "like-minded partner" on international security and multilateral cooperation.
On the Middle East, deliberations will center on maritime security — specifically the EU naval mission Aspides — and potential adjustments to operational plans covering demining and escort activities. Measures targeting violent settlers are also under consideration, though several proposals still require broader consensus among member states.
The agenda further includes a political dialogue with Syria focused on institutional reconstruction and governance reforms, as the bloc recalibrates its engagement with Damascus. Western Balkan cooperation and hybrid threat responses round out the discussions, with Kallas tying enlargement prospects directly to the pace of domestic reforms in candidate nations.
Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Kallas delivered a pointed rebuke of Moscow's recent ceasefire declaration, dismissing it as a cynical political maneuver.
"We saw that this ceasefire that Putin wanted was only very cynical to protect his parade, whereas they were actually attacking civilians in Ukraine," she said.
Kallas further noted that Ukraine had honored previous ceasefire proposals while Russia pressed ahead with military operations — a contrast she framed as evidence of Moscow's bad faith.
A key item on the agenda involves sanctions targeting individuals implicated in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, paired with a high-level discussion on international efforts to secure their return.
Ministers are also set to receive Canada's foreign minister, with Kallas describing Canada as a "like-minded partner" on international security and multilateral cooperation.
On the Middle East, deliberations will center on maritime security — specifically the EU naval mission Aspides — and potential adjustments to operational plans covering demining and escort activities. Measures targeting violent settlers are also under consideration, though several proposals still require broader consensus among member states.
The agenda further includes a political dialogue with Syria focused on institutional reconstruction and governance reforms, as the bloc recalibrates its engagement with Damascus. Western Balkan cooperation and hybrid threat responses round out the discussions, with Kallas tying enlargement prospects directly to the pace of domestic reforms in candidate nations.
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