On the third-year mark of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council, at its meeting in Brussels on Monday, 24 February 2025, is expected to formally approve the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. An agreement on its content has already been achieved at the ambassadorial level, and a number of elements in the package have been aligned with sanctions targeting Belarus to prevent circumvention. Latvia will be represented at the Council by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dace Melbārde.
For the opening of the meeting, the foreign ministers will be joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, via videoconference. They will have an exchange of views on the EU’s further assistance to Ukraine and strengthening the transatlantic dialogue in support of Ukraine.
The Council will have a discussion on the latest developments in the Middle East and the wider region, including Syria and Lebanon. Views will be exchanged on the situation in Iran – EU nationals detained in Iran, its nuclear programme, and cooperation between Iran and Russia. The ministers will then discuss the continued escalation of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Foreign Affairs Council will be followed by the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council.
About the EU Foreign Affairs Council
The Foreign Affairs Council deals with matters relating to EU external action, including the common foreign and security policy, the European security and defence policy, external trade and development cooperation. The Council’s main role is to ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the EU’s external action.