Luxembourg Foreign Minister Describes Russian Exit from Grain Deal as 'Dangerous Blackmail'

Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, participated in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday 20 July 2023.

According to Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the day started with an in-depth discussion on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. After being briefed via videoconference by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the latest developments on the ground, the EU ministers took stock of EU support to Ukraine, including military support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula and outreach efforts in relation to third countries.

Minister Asselborn strongly deplored Russia's decision not to extend the Black Sea grain deal. He described this move as "dangerous blackmail that jeopardises global food security, especially for developing countries."

In terms of awareness-raising efforts, Minister Asselborn informed his counterparts of his working visit at the end of June to Kazakhstan, which is among the priority countries under the EU action plan on the geopolitical consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

During a working lunch, the European ministers exchanged views on Turkey. Luxembourg's Foreign Minister recalled that it is in the EU's strategic interest to have a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and to develop a close and mutually beneficial cooperation relationship with Turkey. He also hailed Turkey's role in reaching the Black Sea grain deal.

Regarding EU enlargement-related issues, Minister Asselborn highlighted the crucial importance for the Turkish government to make tangible progress in terms of respect for human rights, the rule of law, the independence of justice and fundamental freedoms.

Minister Asselborn and his European counterparts also had an informal exchange by videoconference with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The discussion looked at cooperation between the EU and the US on foreign policy issues and, more generally, global challenges. In this context, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister welcomed the close cooperation and coordination between the EU and the US in the face of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, stressing the importance of maintaining this transatlantic unity in the future.

The foreign policy dimension of economic security and the main topical issues, including the situation in Tunisia and the results of the EU-CELAC summit were also on the agenda.