Press conference - Foreign Affairs Council
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Council of the European Union European Council
Follow its sittingsKaja Kallas
On top of our list are, first, more sanctions, including the 22nd sanctions package; second, more sanctions enforcement; third, stronger action against the shadow fleet; fourth, attribution of hybrid attacks; and fifth, better intelligence sharing. Ministers also focused on Ukraine's financing gap for 2027, and many mentioned Russian frozen assets in this context. One important element is to reduce the security risks inside our borders, and that's why we were discussing also the issues regarding the hybrid attacks. Restricting the movement of Russian diplomats, reducing the number of Russian tourist visas, and working on a swift implementation of the entry ban for former Russian ex-combatants is crucial. When it comes to our collective response, we need a mechanism to consult and to act rapidly.
And this is why we will propose an emergency security protocol as part of our European security strategy. This must come with a set of ready-to-deploy response tools. Ministers also discussed preventing the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international sporting competitions. We face a similar situation in the cultural sphere. Sports and culture must not become vehicles for whitewashing Russian aggression.
Based on today's discussion, my services together with the Commission will put forward proposals on how to sustain Russia's isolation in global sports. This can go in parallel with further sanctions on those destroying Ukrainian cultural heritage. On the International Criminal Court, I spoke with the ICC President Akane following the US sanctions announcement. The six-month period before the US measures take effect offers a window of dialogue. The EU has options to ensure that the court can continue its vital work and we were discussing this with the ministers.
Member states were clear, they are serious about protecting the court. Now turning to the Middle East, the Houthi attacks on Riyadh's airport were appalling acts of terror. There can be no justification for indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure. Yesterday, I also conveyed my condolences to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal and exchanged views of the situation. In the Red Sea, escort operations by Operation Aspides are becoming even more crucial given the Houthis' dangerous escalation.
I welcome the additional ships recently offered by the member states, but it's also clear that we need more. Keeping the Red Sea open is in Europe's strategic interest. International waters, the arteries of our economy, must remain open to everyone, not whoever can pay. Today over 60 countries pledged to oppose tolls and fees on international shipping routes. I launched the No Tolls, No Fees pledge before summer and now we have had a serious commitment from around the world on this.
I want to thank all the countries who signed up to this pledge and of course invite also others to join in. We will release the declaration after this press conference. Then on Palestine, ministers regretted the postponement of Palestinian elections. Palestinian legislative and presidential elections should take place as soon as possible. The EU remains ready to support the process including through our EU election observation mission.
After 20 years without a legislative vote, Palestinian institutions need renewed legitimacy. Ministers today also approved the new EU support mission in Lebanon. It will support Lebanon's authorities in strengthening territorial control, border security, and internal security capabilities. And this marks a major upgrade in our security relationship. We aim to have the mission ready and operational within the coming months.
And finally, ministers also extended the mandate of advisory mission in Iraq by two years. The mission will continue to support Iraq in countering terrorism and organized crime. As others pull out, we keep our presence on the ground. We also spoke about many other topics, but that is already a lot, so I'm ready to take your questions.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much, High Representative, and let's get into the questions. We'll start with you.
Please as usual name your, give your name and your media you work for.
Johannes Perterer
Yes, High Representative, Johannes Patera, Austrian National Television. Just if you could put these close to 1600 listings on the sanctions list in perspective today. One could characterize these listings as a sign of strength because it's the highest number ever. And yet on the other hand, it's not really a new sanctions package as it has been reported today. It's an expansion of the listings.
So how would you say this compares in its effect to other packages or other sanctions measures that have been done? Thank you.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. We have to use all the tools that we have. So that's why yes, the strongest package of listings we have adopted so far. Of course it's complementing already the sanctions packages we have done and it doesn't really substitute to the work that we need to do with the 12th sanctions package. And the work is continuing.
So we push this also forward. It is clearly that at this time we need more pressure on Russia and not sending signals that we are easing up somehow because they are actually killing more civilians than they have ever done. So they are really escalating on the ground. And that's why it's time for no concessions, but it's actually time to step up the pressure.
Chris Powers
Hi there. So it's Chris Powers, Kyiv Independent. My question is basically about timings. We've had a few times now these discussions about the Russian immobilized assets and the various types of ban on Russians traveling or getting visas for the EU. But I'm wondering how soon can we start talking about this in terms of like a written plan and proposal that ministers engage with, amend and hopefully or maybe pass.
Thanks.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. First on the visas and ex-combatants ban. Of course the work is going to continue. But what I want to say, what the ministers expressed around the table was a political support for this. Of course there are technicalities because these things also need to work in practice.
How, you know, in practice the check of this, you know, whether person has been combatant or not, how does that work in practice. But I think right now the most important thing is the political messaging that the political agreement is there. We just need to work out the technicalities. And when it comes to the frozen assets, then because of the gap in financing that Ukraine is facing, the difficult times ahead, also because we don't see any signs from Russia that they are, you know, contemplating any kind of peace at the moment. So we need to help Ukraine to survive.
Which means that, you know, the questions come where does this money come from. And the most logical is that Russia should pay for the damages that they are causing and that's why also the frozen assets are back on the table. I think this discussion will continue because eventually it's about sharing the risks between the member states, but it's important that it's not off the table. We are thinking about different tools to fill that financing gap.
Momchil Indjov
Good afternoon. My name is Momchil Indjov, working for Club Z media from Bulgaria.
Speaker 12
High Representative, were today discussed especially the latest drone attacks in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania? Can you give some details? And were or will be proposed sanctions regarding sanctions for these attacks? Thank you.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. Yes, we were also discussing the situation in the Black Sea. And of course in this regard also the initiatives that we had during United Nations General Assembly regarding the Black Sea grain. There I think the call for Russia to stop the attacks on the shipping because it also affects the Asian and African, also Latin American countries when it comes to the grain. Now on these hybrid attacks that also concern our member states, the discussion was about the toolbox that we have.
And that's why also the proposal of this emergency security protocol that would have this political level, discussion level, but also the tools that the member states then can use because we need to be more effective in order to deter these kind of attacks also coming to our member states' territories.
Thomas Gutschker
Thomas Gutschker, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. My question is on something that you mentioned this morning in your doorstep. You said that so far by the sanctions Russia has been or had been deprived by around one trillion euros. Little after that we heard the French Foreign Minister say it's 500 billion, which is still quite a difference. Could you please explain how you came up with this number and how it's calculated?
Thank you.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. This number is based on the intelligence services' account that I don't know exactly how it is counted, but we will definitely share this information with other member states that the numbers are all correct.
Mattia Bagnoli
Yes, thank you for the floor. Mattia Bagnoli, ANSA, the national Italian news agency. High Rep, two points. One is on Aspides. You said that you welcome the more ships provided by the member states.
Actually we have knowledge of two, one probably with severe limits that what the ships can do once gets into the area. So my question is, are you hopeful that more member states will come up with offers? There is an indications that other member states are ready to step up? And secondly, my point is on Ukraine. I want to say here, this General Grynkevich in Warsaw offered what he, what it was his theory of victory or the theory of victory of NATO.
Speaker 10
I would like to ask you what it is your theory of victory on belongs of, I mean on behalf of the EU regarding to Russia. Thank you.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. First on Aspides. Yes, we need at least ten ships and we are not there.
But today we also heard from a few member states that the discussion is ongoing because, you know, the procedures within the member states. So I hope that this will materialize in ships that this operation actually needs. Because if we want to be credible security provider in the region, then we need to have a credible mission. And for that we need more ships and that was also the ask from the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia yesterday. Now on your other question, I was stuck in the meeting so I have no clue what Sakhar said, what is the theory of victory, but it's mostly up to the Ukrainians to define how victory looks like.
For us, I think it's very important that we also set victory as a goal, which means that Russia can't win this war, because then we will have more of it. We can't let Ukraine surrender to the pressure that they are currently under, because then aggression just pays off. But it is eventually up to the Ukrainians to divide. I think the most important thing right now is that Ukraine survives.
Speaker 8
So I'm afraid we'll have to wrap up in a moment, so one last question, please. You here in the, what is it, sixth row. Yes, you.
Vibor Vleinich
Thank you, Vibor Vlainić, Croatian Radio Television. Madam High Representative, we have on one hand the situation that it's getting increasingly hard to agree on new sanctions in Europe. On the other hand, we have actions from the American administration that are going in the direction of decreasing pressure on Russia. So how can you convince the United States to collaborate, cooperate more on that part with Europe, for example to use the Graham law to pressure Russia? Thank you.
Kaja Kallas
Thank you. Today when we just agreed 1,600 listings, I think it's harder to argue that it's increasingly hard to agree on new sanctions. It's not true. We showed unity today on these listings. But of course it would be much stronger if we would act together with US.
Our message to United States is also that, you know, the only pressure works with Russia. Why, you know, they are doing these deals and easing up the pressure on Russia, so we see how Russia corresponds or replies to this with more attacks and actually increasing escalation. So it clearly does not work. Every time we are together with the United States, UK, our other like-minded partners, the sanctions have much bigger effect and that's why we are also hopeful that this Graham bill will be put into action to finally pressure Russia to stop this war.
Speaker 7
Thank you very much, High Representative. Thank you for joining us. That closes the press conference.