“We cannot rely on temporary reliefs on the front and tactical victories – we finally need a strategy that will lead to Ukraine’s victory in this war,” the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy noted during the discussion.
While deploring the weakening of the 14th package of sanctions during the discussions among the member states, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister pointed out that exemptions for individual industries or groups of goods significantly weakened the impact of the sanctions policy.
“We cannot adopt sanctions packages while creating loopholes for their circumvention. Sanctions against Belarus must be immediately reinforced and cover the same areas as sanctions against Russia – only in this way will we ensure that Belarus will no longer be one of the most important routes of sanctions circumvention and that the Kremlin and Lukashenko’s regimes will not receive revenues needed to continue with the brutal war”, the Foreign Minister said.
During the discussion on the situation in Georgia, the Foreign Minister called for sending a clear message that the actions of the Georgian authorities were incompatible with the EU membership aspirations. The EU must review its level of contacts and financial support accordingly and, at the same time, strengthen its support for the Georgian people fighting for the country’s European future. Restrictive measures targeting those responsible for the gross human rights violations recorded daily in Georgia must also be considered.
The Council discussed developments in the Middle East, focusing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In addition, EU Foreign Affairs Ministers voiced the EU’s support for the roadmap to a ceasefire tabled by the U.S. President Biden and the EU’s efforts to restart the Middle East peace process.
The Council also discussed the role of the EU in ensuring stability in the Great Lakes region.
In an informal meeting with Foreign Ministers from the Western Balkans partner countries, EU Foreign Affairs Ministers discussed the security situation in the region and in Europe and the need for a stronger common engagement on foreign and security policy in the EU accession process, including on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.