EU foreign ministers to discuss ‘Trump effect’ in Ukraine and Middle East

Eduardo González The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, José Manuel Albares and Margarita Robles, will meet this week with their respective EU counterparts to address, among other issues, the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East and the possible effects that Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections may have on these two conflicts. The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is taking place in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday, in its dual Foreign Affairs and Defence aspect. At Monday's meeting, the heads of diplomacy of the 27 Member States will address the Russian aggression against Ukraine, following an intervention by videoconference by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, to provide updates on the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine's current priorities. The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, will brief the Council on his recent visit to Ukraine and will convey to the ministers "the views of the Ukrainian authorities in relation to the developments on the ground and the results of the presidential elections in the USA", according to the EU Council. In this context, the debate will focus on additional support to Ukraine and the ministers will discuss the possible response of the EU to the support to Russia from third countries. In this regard, the European Council has called for a rapid step-up in military support and an acceleration of its delivery, in particular of air defence systems, ammunition and missiles, which are urgently needed to protect the Ukrainian population and critical energy infrastructure, and has strongly condemned the continued support of third countries to Russia's war of aggression and urged them to cease all assistance. On Tuesday, Defence Ministers will also discuss military support for Ukraine and meet with Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, President Volodymyr Zelensky's Adviser on Strategic Affairs Alexander Kamyshin - both via video conference - and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for an informal exchange. They are expected to discuss EU-Ukraine defence industrial cooperation, EU-NATO cooperation and how to support Ukraine's Victory Plan. Another issue to be addressed by the foreign ministers on Monday is the situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon and the regional situation in general. Borrell is expected to update the legal assessment of Israel's respect for human rights and international law, also in light of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on 19 July. The Council could also address the issue of EU support for UNRWA, following the adoption by the Knesset of the draft laws on this UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees. An interesting novelty of the EAC is the point concerning EU-US relations. According to the Council, following the debate held by EU leaders at their informal meeting in Budapest on 7 November, the ministers are expected to address the broader picture of EU-US relations, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as "on the specific implications of the elections".

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