Tsahkna to Discuss Ukraine-Related Issues with EU Colleagues

TALLINN – Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is set to participate in the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, where discussions will cover Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and EU-China relations. 

On Monday afternoon, Luxembourg will host intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova, officially opening the first cluster of EU accession negotiations. Additionally, under Estonia's leadership, a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers with Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban will be held in Luxembourg.

The EU foreign ministers will discuss continued political and military support for Ukraine and the implementation of additional measures to increase pressure on Russia. The talks will focus, among other things, on the European Union's 21st sanctions package, aimed at further weakening Russia's war machine by curbing its revenues. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will also join the discussion.

"Throughout Russia's full-scale aggression, the EU has worked to limit Russia's ability to fund its war effort. We will continue our work in Luxembourg tomorrow to swiftly adopt another strong sanctions package to further pressure Russia's already struggling economy and bring an end to the war closer," Tsahkna said.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting will be preceded by a discussion with the Armenian Foreign Minister and followed by a session of the European Union-Egypt Association Council. 

As this year's chair of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation format (NB8), Estonia will also lead a meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow between the foreign ministers of Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, and Denmark and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban. 

After the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova will be held, during which the first cluster of EU accession negotiations, the fundamentals, will be officially opened. This is a significant milestone on both countries' path to joining the European Union. The first cluster includes, among other things, the rule of law, judicial independence, the fight against corruption, and public administration reform, and forms the basis for the entire accession process.

"Ukraine and Moldova have demonstrated utmost commitment to implementing the necessary reforms for EU accession, and the EU has now finally reached an agreement to open the first negotiating cluster. This is a significant step towards a more unified, stronger, and more secure Europe," Tsahkna said. "Estonia anticipates that the remaining five clusters with Ukraine and Moldova will also be opened swiftly."

Additionally, an intergovernmental conference will be held with Montenegro to close chapters in its European Union accession negotiations.