EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels on the eve of the anniversary of the war in Ukraine

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) met this Monday in Brussels before the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, on February 24, which will be attended by their Ukrainian counterpart, Dimitro Kuleba.

In the run-up to the first anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, foreign affairs officials are expected to evaluate new support measures for Ukraine, such as arms shipments or economic sanctions against Moscow.

In this sense, the European Commission has proposed a tenth package of sanctions against the Kremlin, focused on export control as well as punishment for evasion of these measures, whose adoption is expected before next Friday.

The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, has also announced this Sunday during his daily address to the nation a new list of sanctions against the Russian financial sector, which will affect representatives of the banking sector and the Moscow Stock Exchange.

"Today we have a new sanctioning measure from our State against all those who fuel Russian aggression," the Ukrainian leader said and also stated that these sanctions are "the basis" for the allies in the West to adopt similar ones.

In addition, Estonia intends to present a compensation plan for those countries that send weapons to Ukraine, in order to include the joint purchase of ammunition as well as the replenishment of stockpiles.

Also on the agenda is the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, amid the internal tensions that the country is experiencing due to allegations of alleged Russian interference, the territorial proximity to the conflict and the recent fall of the Government led by Natalia Gravilita.

Beyond Europe's borders, the ministers are expected to agree on new measures against the Tehran regime, in response to the government's crackdown on protesters, as well as an aid plan for the women of Afghanistan, all in the context of the Taliban's ban on working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or going to university.

In addition, the Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, will review the main points of view on the energy transition and the climate crisis.