On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will participate in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium. On Foreign Minister Braže’s initiative, the International Special Envoy for the Implementation of EU Sanctions, David O’Sullivan, will take part in the Foreign Affairs Council and inform the ministers about latest developments in the fight against the circumvention of sanctions.
Sanctions. EU Foreign Ministers will formally approve the 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia, already agreed by EU Member States’ Ambassadors, and discuss further steps in relations to the 18th round of sanctions. Ministers will also extend, and add a new, second package to the EU sanctions framework for the human rights situation in Russia. Additional restrictions will be imposed under the EU sanctions regime for Russia’s destabilizing (non-conventional) activities. It is planned to impose sanctions on legal entities under the Russian Ministry of Defence that are involved in the use, development and production of chemical weapons.
Ukraine. Ministers will exchange views on further political and military support to Ukraine. including possible security guarantees to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha will joined the discussion via videoconference.
The Middle East. The ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East and a possible EU action in the Gaza Strip, as well as the annual review of EU restrictive measures against Syria.
The EU-African Union (AU) ministerial meeting. On Wednesday, 21 May, Brussels will host the third EU-AU ministerial meeting to take stock of developments since the sixth EU-AU Summit held in February 2022. The meeting will be co-chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, Tete António.
It will give an opportunity to inform partners from African countries about Latvia’s priorities in the UN Security Council ahead of the upcoming election on 3 June, to explain Latvia’s position on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and discuss economic cooperation, among other matters.
For information
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.