Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has urged the European Union to open membership talks with Ukraine as soon as possible.
“Ukraine has already done its homework in implementing the recommendations for the opening of EU negotiations, which we need to assess accordingly, starting accession negotiations as soon as possible,” the Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying at the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s meeting on Monday.
According to the ministry’s press release, EU foreign ministers decided to establish a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF) within the European Peace Facility (EPF).
Monday’s meeting started with an informal exchange of views via video conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
“It’s high time we erased the red lines and took decisive action to change Russia’s calculations. We need to plan concrete measures necessary for Ukraine’s victory. Macron’s initiative and the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition, which Lithuania has joined, are inspirational examples,” Landsbergis said during the discussion.
The bloc’s foreign ministers also discussed new sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
“EU ministers also agreed to finalise sanctions against those responsible for the murder of Alexei Navalny,” the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said. “In addition, a group of countries highlighted the need for new sectoral sanctions against Belarus.”
“Ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East, in particular in the Gaza Strip and the provision of humanitarian aid, tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the security situation in the region, including in the Red Sea, and the possibility to restart the Middle East peace process,” it said.
They also discussed the EU’s efforts to contribute to the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process, and possible EU support measures to bolster Armenia’s democratic reforms and resilience to external pressures, according to the press release.
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