EU Foreign Council discusses support to Ukraine and relations with South Caucasus
EU Foreign Affairs ministers meeting in Brussels on 21 April discussed, among other things, strengthening their support to Ukraine, the upcoming first EU-Armenia summit, deepening relationship with Azerbaijan and Georgia’s democratic backsliding.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined the meeting online, offering an overview of the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s most urgent needs.
The discussion focused on further support for Ukraine, including through the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan for the years 2026-2027, and ways to further increase pressure on Russia in a comprehensive manner, including through the 20th sanctions’ package and further restrictive measures.
“The EU remains Ukraine’s biggest supporter, in addition to the military and financial support, also our EUMAM mission has now trained over 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers,” Kallas told reports after the Council. “And there was also broad support today to move ahead with the fourth pillar of European security guarantees, focused on the defence sector reform, hybrid cyber threats, as well as the veterans.”
Furthermore, the Council adopted restrictive measures against two additional entities responsible for Russia’s continued hybrid activities, in particular propaganda and disinformation, and also decided to extend EU restrictive measures against those responsible for actions aimed at destabilising, undermining or threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, until 29 April 2027.
“We must continue to give Ukraine what it needs to hold its own, until Putin understands that this war leads nowhere,” Kallas said. “While Russia bombs museums, destroys churches and seeks to erase Ukrainian culture, it should not be allowed to exhibit its own. Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale is morally wrong, and also the EU intends to cut its funding.”
She added that the EU would come with proposals to restrict former Russian combatants’ entry to the European Union by the time of June’s European Council.
Ministers also exchanged views on EU relations with the South Caucasus, with a focus on developments in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. In this context, various ministers stressed that progress in that process is a real opportunity for the region, and that the EU is significantly stepping up its support for it.
Taking into account the outcome of the visit of the President of the European Council to Baku on 11 March, ministers discussed EU relations with Azerbaijan and the parameters for possible EU reengagement with the country.
“Azerbaijan remains an important partner on energy and connectivity. We want to deepen our ties and will resume negotiations of a new bilateral cooperation agreement soon,” Kaja Kallas said.
The Foreign Affairs Council also discussed EU-Armenia relations and endorsed the deliverables of the first Summit, which Kaja Kallas called “a testimony of our deepening partnership”. The high level event will take place on 4-5 May in Yerevan.
The Council decided to establish the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia), alongside the ongoing EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA), as a further contribution in the efforts to enhance Armenia’s democratic resilience and its ability to manage crises.
Finally, the Council reviewed the situation in Georgia and discussed EU pressure in response to the ongoing democratic backsliding. At the end of the meeting, the EU High Representative said that there were no signs of improvement.
“Georgia shows no signs of reversing democratic backsliding. Ministers had an explicit message that Georgia needs to change the course. And of course, also genuine engagement in the human rights dialogue would be an indication that they want to change the course,” Kallas concluded.
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Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas at the press conference
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