EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, situation in the Middle East, and Georgia

EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, situation in the Middle East, and Georgia

EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 16 December. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

The EU foreign ministers will continue their discussion on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. They will discuss military support to Ukraine and sanctions, among other matters.

"Russia has continued its attacks against civilian targets, and the situation on the frontline is critical for Ukraine. We in the EU must respond to this and rapidly increase military support to Ukraine. The EU must also ramp up its sanctions against Russia and supporters of Russian warfare. Finland's aim is to support a lasting peace and to prevent solutions that would be against the interests of Ukraine and leave the conflict simmering," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

In discussions on the Middle East, the foreign ministers will focus on the situation in Syria.

"The fall of the Assad regime was a historic turn, and there are elements of both hope for the future and great uncertainty in the new situation. The EU must now support the stabilisation of the situation in Syria on the basis of non-violence and international law and the work towards a political transition. The EU must play a role in ensuring that this work will be pursued on the UN track, taking account of all population groups in Syria. We will not turn our attention away from the wider crisis in the Middle East either. The EU must continue to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The humanitarian suffering in Gaza is completely unbearable."

The foreign ministers will also discuss the EU's position on the abuse by the authorities in Georgia. Hundreds of demonstrators have been beaten and imprisoned after the Georgian government announced that it will suspend the country's EU accession process. The current situation in Belarus is also on the Council's agenda.

In addition, the foreign ministers will hold an informal discussion on the Council's working methods. The Foreign Affairs Council will be chaired for the first time by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.