Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin T.D., will take part in an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Thursday 29 August.
The agenda for the meeting includes discussions on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Middle East, EU-Turkish relations, as well as Venezuela and Georgia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag and the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan will all participate in the meeting.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said:
“On Monday we witnessed Russia launch cynical, brutal and widespread bombardment attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. That these attacks followed on from celebrations of Ukraine’s independence day show the nature and intention of Russia’s aggression. Today, my counterparts and I will discuss ways that the EU can strategically develop our support to Ukraine, in conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. I welcome hearing first-hand from Minister Kuleba about the current situation on the ground and Ukraine’s most urgent needs. Our discussion on EU support to Ukraine will also include international diplomatic engagement and discussions on how we can build on the Peace Summit in Switzerland, in particular ahead of the UN General Assembly High Level Week.”
On the situation in the Middle East, the Tánaiste said:
“The situation in Gaza is unconscionable. Today we will hear from UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and how the EU can support the efforts of the UN and humanitarian organisations. It is imperative that the EU brings the full scope of its financial and political role to bear in ensuring that the people of Gaza are able to receive humanitarian support. Today we will be discussing how the EU can use the wide range of instruments at its disposal, to encourage a comprehensive and proactive approach to progressing an urgently needed ceasefire, hostage release and humanitarian access. I am also deeply concerned at the situation in the West Bank, which has seen a significant loss of life over recent days. This loss of life must end. We need immediate de-escalation and a political pathway established. The events of the past week in the West Bank, Lebanon and Israel underline the gravity of this situation in the entire region and the urgent need for stabilisation.
