<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>EU foreign ministers, including Spain's José Manuel Albares, will discuss the need to maintain military aid to Ukraine this Monday in Brussels following the recent Jeddah agreement between Washington and Kyiv proposing a 30-day ceasefire to Russia.</strong></h4> According to a press release from the EU, the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will begin with a debate on Russian aggression against Ukraine, during which Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, will report via videoconference on the latest political developments, the situation on the ground, and the most urgent priorities. This debate, the EU recalled, will take place in the context of the United States' ongoing efforts to end the war, including the Jeddah meeting, and following the extraordinary European Council meeting held on March 6 in Brussels. It will also take place on the eve of the European Council meeting on March 20 and 21. At the extraordinary European Council meeting on March 6, the heads of state and government endorsed the European Commission's plan to strengthen the continent's defense and facilitate increased military spending by member states. The member states (except Hungary) also reaffirmed their "constant and unwavering" commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The 26 signatory states also stressed the need to achieve "a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace" based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and warned that any peace negotiations must involve the active participation of Europe and Ukraine. The EU also reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Ukraine in coordination with partners and allies, providing political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic assistance, and called for increased pressure on Russia. Separately, European Council President Antonio Costa has sent a letter of invitation to Council members for the meeting on 20 and 21 March, stating that "continued support for Ukraine, the need to invest in defense, and competitiveness are closely interlinked." Leaders will also follow up on the extraordinary European Council meeting of 6 March regarding recent developments related to Ukraine and the next steps in defense matters following the presentation of the White Paper on the Future of European Defense, ahead of the June European Council. Separately, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas will warn foreign ministers on Monday of the importance of placing Ukraine in a position of strength for possible peace negotiations and ensuring continued military support for the country, including her initiative to strengthen EU military support by 2025 to provide adequate security guarantees for Ukraine. The EAC will also discuss the importance of maintaining maximum pressure on Russia. <h5><strong>Gaza and Syria</strong></h5> Separately, the Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the situation in the Middle East, starting with the situation in Gaza, where, according to the EU, "the ceasefire is at a critical juncture and it is crucial to ensure the release of all hostages and the flow of humanitarian aid," and on the recent episodes of violence in the Syrian coastal region, which have caused a high number of casualties, including numerous civilians. On March 11, Kallas strongly condemned, on behalf of the EU, the attacks by militias loyal to the former Bashar al-Assad regime against security forces and the crimes against civilians allegedly perpetrated by armed groups affiliated with the security forces of the transitional authorities. He also called for a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
