EU Foreign Ministers Discuss Russian Aggression, EU-Turkey Relations, Middle East

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday 29 August 2024.

As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the ministers first discussed Russian aggression against Ukraine. They had an exchange with their Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, on the latest developments on the ground as well as on the EU's continued support for Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defence. The minister called for continued dialogue with other key partners around the world on this subject, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Minister Bettel and his European counterparts then had an exchange of views with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on EU-Turkey relations. Minister Bettel welcomed this opportunity to exchange with each other, stressing the importance of having regular high-level dialogue to address the many issues of shared interest, such as trade, peace and security, rule of law and human rights.

The ministers also took stock of the situation in Georgia and Venezuela, before discussing the situation in the Middle East. This was preceded by a briefing by the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.