Ukraine (bbabo.net), - In Luxembourg on the morning of Monday, April 22, a meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers of member states began. New EU sanctions against Iran, imposed by the EU last week in response to the country's recent attack on Israel, should also apply to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Belgian Foreign Minister Khaja Labib said on Monday 22 April.
Arriving at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Khaja Labib said that there is currently no agreement on the legal framework that would allow the IRGC to be included in the sanctions list of organizations considered terrorist.
“We will discuss this together. However, we must extend sanctions against the violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. We need to strike a balance and be careful not to be accused of double standards,” said the Belgian Foreign Minister.
EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who arrived at the meeting, stressed that support for Ukraine remains high on the agenda and that EU member states should consider ways to provide further military support to Kyiv, especially in the field of air defense.
“We ask EU member states to do everything possible to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. Kyiv needs more ammunition, launchers and interceptor missiles for its anti-aircraft batteries, and the number of batteries must be increased,” he said.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stressed that the meeting should focus on speeding up the delivery of military aid, while Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot welcomed the United States' positive decision on the Ukraine aid package.
“Not only the European Union, but also the United States must act in a timely manner to provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition,” she said.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said on arrival at the EU Council that the European Union's next round of sanctions should include action against the "shadow fleet" of Russian oil tankers.
“Passing the sanctions package is one of the most important things, and we need to include a ban on imports of liquefied natural gas and measures to limit the Russian shadow fleet,” he said.
At a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, April 22, foreign ministers will discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defense and the situation in the Middle East, including extending sanctions against Iran. The war in Sudan is also on the agenda.
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