“Working together, we must do more and act faster to provide Ukraine with strong and comprehensive support and to give Ukraine a better position both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, where Ukraine’s biggest supporter, the EU, must also be present. The outcome of the war will affect the security situation across Europe and the transatlantic space, and EU unity is crucial at this time. We must continue to coordinate and communicate as actively as possible with the United States, our strategic ally. We must put even greater economic pressure on Russia, including strengthening sanctions – they are working, and the EU’s sanctions policy against Russia has a significant impact on the peace process. We must also be able to finally find the ways and legal solutions for the confiscation of all the immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank in order to channel them towards support and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is also necessary to significantly accelerate the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU, which is important for the security of both Ukraine and the EU,” the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artjoms Uršuļskis, underlined at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium, on 17 March 2025.
The members of the Foreign Affairs Council also expressed strong and unwavering support for faster progress with Ukraine’s integration with the EU. Following the Foreign Affairs Council, a meeting on a more rapid eurointegration of Ukraine was also held in the NB6 format (the three Baltic states, Finland, Sweden and Denmark).
The Foreign Affairs Council took stock of progress with the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, the establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, and the EU’s support for the Ukrainian civil society.
Work is currently underway on the 17th package of sanctions. Latvia’s priorities lie with strengthening sanctions against the sectors that are still the largest sources of Russia’s income – the energy, transport, and logistics sectors. Even broader sanctions against the shadow fleet ships must continue. Russia must also be denied any access to Western technologies.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also participated (remotely) in the EU Foreign Affairs Council discussion on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: “The war in Ukraine must be stopped immediately, while achieving a just solution. Ukraine’s territorial integrity is a priority. The EU must definitely participate in peace talks and continue to put pressure on Russia. Increased military support for Ukraine is urgently needed straightaway.”
Foreign Minister Sybiha offered thanks and expressed support for the initiative of the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas with the aim of providing increased military assistance to Ukraine. Artjoms Uršuļskis emphasized that Latvia will continue to support Ukraine in accordance with the Latvia-Ukraine agreement on long-term support and security commitments signed in April 2024, which includes allocating at least 0.25% of GDP to military support at least until 2026. Support planned for 2025 amounts to approximately 110.94 million EUR.
In a discussion on relations between the EU and the U.S., ministers focused on the EU’s foreign and security policy priorities and pursuing interests that are common with the U.S. administration, especially in the areas of trade and security. “The U.S. has been, and will remain the main strategic ally to the EU and Latvia. It is important to continue close transatlantic cooperation with the U.S. administration at all levels to promote support for Ukraine and constrain Russia. The EU must prove that it is a strong and resolute ally with a concrete plan and contribution – the EU must take the lead in its own security and defence by significantly increasing defence investments and developing its military industry,” Parliamentary Secretary Uršuļskis underlined.
The Foreign Affairs Council approved the inclusion of another legal entity in the sanctions regime against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida. In a discussion on developments in the Middle East, ministers reviewed recent events in Syria, Iran’s activities and the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, including the Gaza reconstruction plan prepared by the Arab States, the situation in the West Bank, and the EU’s engagement in talks with the Palestinian Authority, through arranging a high-level dialogue at the April EU Foreign Affairs Council. As for the future sanction regime against Syria, in view of the recent mass killings of civilians in the coastal regions of Syria, easing sanctions is currently not on the agenda. On the whole, the meeting expressed support for a gradual approach, keeping the possibility of re-imposing sanctions in the event of backslide or lack of progress. It is also important to stop Russia’s destabilizing activities in the region. The discussion on Iran covered the cases of detention of EU citizens in Iran, Iran’s nuclear programme, regional influence, as well as the Iranian-Russian cooperation.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council was followed by the Ninth Brussels Conference, “Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition”, with the aim of mobilising funds for the reconstruction of Syria and supporting Syria’s neighbouring countries.
