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The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a VTC intervention by Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, who updated his EU counterparts on the latest developments both politically and on the ground.
The High Representative announced broad political support for a defence initiative up to €40 billion in support of Ukraine, and the need to now work on details ahead of the next European Council on 20-21 March.
The High Representative reiterated the EU’s positive stance towards the Jeddah talks, including the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, and stressed that the ball is now in Russia's court.
What we see right now is that Russia doesn't really want peace, and […] can't really be trusted. They will seize this opportunity to present all kinds of demands, and what we already see is that they are presenting demands that are their ultimate goals. So let's see how this develops further.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council
The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Middle East, and notably the situation in Israel and Gaza. The High Representative condemned the politicisation of humanitarian aid, and stressed that humanitarian aid has to reach the people in need in Gaza.
Ministers welcomed the Arab Plan for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction presented at the Cairo summit on 4 March as a good basis. The High Representative highlighted that there are elements that need to be discussed further, and that it is very important for the Europeans that Hamas does not have any future role in the rebuilding of Gaza.
Ahead of the 9th Brussels conference, the Foreign Affairs Council discussed the latest developments in Syria in light of the recent outbreak of violence in Syria’s coastal region.
This is our position right now: we are helping Syria to move forward. Of course, we want to see that the current leadership is taking very seriously holding accountable those who were responsible for the violence, and we also want to see the inclusiveness of government build up, because Syria has a lot of different groups.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the Foreign Affairs Council
The Council exchanged views on the EU policy towards Iran, focusing on various elements such as: Iran’s military support to Russia, its arbitrary detentions of EU citizens, hybrid operations in the EU, its destabilising role in the Middle East region, as well as its and nuclear capabilities.
The Council added Al Azaim Foundation for Media Production to the list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da'esh) Al-Qaeda, which are subject to EU restrictive measures.
The Council listed nine persons and one entity responsible for human rights violations and abuses, and for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Council adopted a decision authorising the European Commission to take part, on behalf of the Union, in the negotiations for an international instrument setting up an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.
