On 23 February 2026, one day ahead of the fourth year since the start of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, will participate in the meeting remotely.
The focus of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting will be:
- further containment of Russia, including through the twentieth sanctions package and measures against the shadow fleet and its ecosystem;
- support for Ukraine’s self-defence capabilities, energy sector, and civilians, many of whom across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, are enduring the coldest winter in a decade without heating or electricity;
- the situation in the Middle East, including the implementation of the Gaza peace plan and the situation in Iran and Syria. The meeting will be attended by Nickolay Mladenov, High Representative for Gaza in the Executive Committee of the Board of Peace.
At the initiative of EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, an informal discussion will take place on strengthening resilience against foreign information manipulation and interference.
Background information
The Foreign Affairs Council deals with matters relating to external action, including the common foreign and security policy, the European security and defence policy, external trade, and development cooperation. The Council’s main task is to ensure the unity, consistency, and effectiveness of the EU’s external action.