EU ministers to discuss Ukraine war, Middle East, defence capacities
The European Union’s foreign and defence ministers are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the fighting in Ukraine, the bloc’s defence capabilities and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers are set to formally sign off on the EU’s 17th package of sanctions on Moscow over Russia’s war on Ukraine, targeting the so-called Russian shadow fleet.
These often-uninsured ships with murky ownership helped Moscow evade Western oil price caps.
In more than a dozen cases, personal sanctions such as EU entry bans and asset freezes were foreseen.
There are also plans to target several dozen companies involved in circumventing Russia’s sanctions.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha is expected to meet his EU counterparts by video-link after negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian envoys on a ceasefire proposed by Kiev failed to produce concrete results.
The foreign ministers are to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, including in the Gaza Strip and Syria.
Defence ministers are to start with a discussion on the EU’s military support for war-torn Ukraine.
Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov is to join the consultations by video link, while NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte is expected to join the talks in Brussels in person.
Defence ministers are also set to discuss how to improve the EU’s defence capacities and increase military spending, including a proposal for a €150 billion ($169 billion) defence fund.
(dpa/NAN)
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