The situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the conflict in Sudan, are the main topics to be discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council taking place today in Luxembourg.

The discussion will start with Ukraine and EU foreign ministers, together with EU defense ministers, will discuss ways to further support Kiev. At the same time, the European ministers will be informed, via teleconference, about the critical situation in the military field, by their Ukrainian counterparts, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. For several weeks, Ukraine has been asking to support the defense of the country, mainly with anti-aircraft means and ammunition.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell, attending the Council, expressed hope that member states will listen to what Kiev’s needs are and present concrete proposals on what they can do.

“We have asked member states to do everything they can to increase Ukraine’s air defense capability,” Borel said, explaining that Ukraine, in addition to ammunition, needs missiles and Patriot arrays.

The situation in Middle East will be discussed during the meal. EU Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss ways to avoid escalating tensions in the region and consider Israel’s response to the Iranian strike on April 19.

Following the request of European leaders on 17 April, EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the new drone and missile sanctions against Iran;. EU High Representative Josep Borrell explained that restrictive measures will be taken in relation to the production and exports of drones and missiles and expressed hope that all member states would agree, as unanimity is needed.

J. Borrell has stated that the EU sanctions regime against Iran could be extended to Iran’s proxies that launch missiles in the Red Sea, as well as Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.

In addition, Foreign Ministers will once again review the situation in the Gaza Strip. “The situation in Gaza continues to be more or less the same, maybe even worse, with shelling and civilian casualties,” Z. Borel said. He added that the EU is asking Israel in every possible way not to attack Rafah, but pointed out: “but I am not the commander of the Israeli army.” He also said that in the West Bank, attacks against Palestinians are increasing, which is why the EU will consider imposing additional sanctions on extremist settlers. It is recalled that last Friday the EU imposed sanctions on four individuals and two radical Jewish groups for serious human rights violations against the Palestinians.

Finally, the Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the conflict in Sudanwhich is increasingly being characterized by international organizations as “the biggest humanitarian crisis” in the world today, with over 8 million refugees.