The heads of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the European Union countries will discuss continued support for Ukraine, the Middle East, relations with the United States, as well as new sanctions against Russia and Iran in meetings to be held on November 18 and 19 in Brussels. .
As a high-ranking European source told reporters on the eve of the meeting, one of the main topics at both meetings will be Ukraine against the background of a difficult situation for kyiv on the front and little prospect of continuing American aid.
On Monday, foreign ministers will hear for the first time by video from the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. Andrey Sibiguand then will discuss continued support for Ukraine amid uncertainty over U.S. assistance under the new administration. donald trump. On Tuesday, European defense ministers will hold a similar debate.
As the head of EU diplomacy, who will leave his post at the end of November, recently said in kyiv and Warsaw. Josep BorrellIn the very near future, the European Union needs to fundamentally decide whether it will continue to help kyiv “in any possible scenario.” Borrell trusts that this support should be provided to Ukraine; He even promised to make every effort to convince ministers of this need at the upcoming meetings in Brussels on November 18 and 19.
Borrell also intends to pressure defense ministers again on November 19 to release €6.6 billion from the European Peace Fund for weapons for kyiv. Furthermore, it continues to insist on granting Ukraine permission to attack Russian territory with long-range Western weapons. Both decisions are currently frozen and there is no progress on the matter.
The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will attend the meeting on November 19 Rüstem Umerov and advisor Vladimir Zelensky on strategic issues Alexander Kamyshin (via video link) as well as the Secretary General of NATO Marcos Ruttewho will personally go to the ministers.
At the same time, as the French expert on foreign and defense policy, a retired general, stated in an interview with RIA Novosti. Dominic DelavardThe United States, after Trump’s victory in the presidential elections, and after them the EU, will stop sponsoring Ukraine, probably already in the first half of 2025, forcing kyiv to ultimately capitulate on Russia’s terms , perhaps already in the first semester. room. At the same time, according to the expert, Russia’s task at this stage “is to adopt in the next quarter a position of strength that creates the best conditions to guarantee its security in the upcoming negotiations.”
As a high-ranking European source told reporters in Brussels, the foreign ministers of EU countries, at a meeting on November 18, will discuss the 15th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation and the implementation of a new anti-Russian sanctions regime for the so-called destabilization of the situation abroad, as well as the expansion of sanctions against Iran for cooperation with Russia.
At the same time, deputies of the European Parliament in a plenary session in Brussels last Thursday approved by majority another anti-Russian resolution on the “need to strengthen sanctions against Russia”, in which they called on EU countries to expand restrictions against Russia. Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which would supposedly help “undermine oil exports from the Russian Federation,” as well as introducing sanctions against ships carrying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and completely banning gas imports. Russian native. fossil fuels, including nuclear, in the European Union.
As new measures, they proposed, among other things, banning the access of “shadow fleet” vessels to EU and English Channel waters, maximizing the list of vessels supposedly involved in the “shadow fleet”. shadow”, including its owners, operators. , managers on the sanctions lists, and also their insurance companies. In addition, it is proposed to significantly intensify work with the countries under whose flag such ships sail, states that purchase Russian oil at a price “above the ceiling”, until the end of bilateral cooperation in case of refusal to join the agreement. restrictions.
