Updated Feb 20, 2023 | 08:28
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine comes to the meeting of EU foreign ministers
Photo: APA/dpa/Portal
DForeign ministers from EU states want to discuss new sanctions against Russia and more military aid for Ukraine on Monday. Ukrainian Chancellor Dmytro Kuleba is expected as a guest in Brussels. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn stressed before the meeting that EU sanctions against China should not be ruled out in case of weapons delivery to Russia.
During their talks on a tenth package of sanctions against Russia later in the day, EU foreign ministers would also discuss sanctions against seven Iranian companies for supplying drones, Asselborn told Deutschlandfunk on Monday. “If China supplied weapons, something similar could happen very quickly.” That would be a dramatic turnaround and would have consequences for relations with the People’s Republic. China must consider this carefully. China’s credibility with its plans to unveil a peace plan on the anniversary of the war’s outbreak on Friday would also evaporate.
Russia’s war of aggression against Russia entered its second year on Friday. With what is now the tenth package of sanctions, the EU wants to introduce more trade restrictions on electronics, special vehicles and machine parts.
Tougher actions must be taken to circumvent the sanctions. In addition, the ministers want to discuss the delivery of more arms and ammunition to Ukraine. In view of the great demand, a new bidding procedure is being worked on. According to the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, the procedure is similar to that used for the rapid acquisition of vaccines in the corona pandemic. Accordingly, EU states could provide money that would be used to bundle large orders for the defense industry across the EU.
A decision on further sanctions on Iran over the government’s actions against protesters is also planned. In addition, advice should be provided on how the EU can support girls and women following the return of the Islamic Taliban to power in Afghanistan.