The War in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and EU-US relations are the key issues that will be addressed today by the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Coming to the Council, EU High Representative Kaya Calas told Ukraine that a decision is expected to be made today for a decision on Renewal and expansion of economic sanctions against Russia.

He also added that “everything else we can do to push Russia to end this war”.

Coming to the Council, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Baro confirmed that the EU would renew sanctions against Russia.

“A month before the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe continues to support the Ukrainians to allow them to enter the moment when they find it appropriate in peace talks and from a position of power,” Foreign Minister Jean said in peace. -Noel Baro.

“Today we will decide to renew sanctions against Russia,” the French Foreign Minister said, noting that these sanctions have helped exclude the Putin regime of about 400 billion euros – an amount corresponding to three -year equipment programs.

He also added that sanctions on three Russian officials of the Russian Intelligence Directorate (Grru) who are held responsible for hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea.

Specifically, the use of profits by frozen Russian assets is expected to be discussed to help Ukraine, while the next sanctions package – the 16th – is expected to be discussed in the coming days, with the aim of reaching an agreement until the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. February 24th.

The debate on Ukraine will begin with intervention via Ukrainian Foreign Minister Antri Simbicha’s teleconference and then EU ministers will discuss the financial and military support to Kiev. The help includes the training of Ukrainian soldiers. According to Mrs Calas, it is expected that a total of 75,000 troops have been trained by the end of February by the end of February.

Syrian sanctions relaxation road map

Concerning Syria, the High Representative Mr Calas said that “we are expected to adopt a road map of sanctions today.” These are the sanctions imposed on the regime ‘Assad, but, as Mrs Calas pointed out, the loosening of the sanctions will become’ step by step ‘and depending on the actions of the new authorities of the country.

He explained that the EU is willing to first relax the sanctions that will allow the country to begin to start if the Syrian leadership goes “in the right direction”. The High Representative also said that the EU is working with regional and international actors to oversee the situation and added that the EU is ready to open its diplomatic delegation in Damascus.

For Syria, Jean-Noel Baro said that today ministers would decide to suspend certain sanctions in the energy sector, transport or financial institutions. He stressed that this relaxation of sanctions should be accompanied by a political transition to the country that is included for all Syrians.

On the table and the Treb

EU-US relations will be discussed during the lunch of Foreign Ministers.

It is expected that an exchange of views on how a positive relationship with the administration of the new US President Donald Trump can be secured. “We have to explain to the US government what we have in common, we are allies on many issues in a polarized world, but we can also have a trading relationship if needed,” one diplomat explained. According to diplomatic sources, EU High Representative Kaya Calas addressed the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.

Russia’s hybrid threats and the situation in agriculture will also be occupied by the EU Foreign Affairs Council