EU Foreign Ministers Discuss Ukraine, Middle East, and Energy Policy in Luxembourg

European Union foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and a range of other international and regional issues.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the bloc continues to support diplomatic efforts toward peace in Ukraine but warned that Moscow shows no genuine willingness to end the war.

"We see President Trump's efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. Of course, all these efforts are welcome, but we don't really see Russia wanting peace. Russia only understands strength and only negotiates when they are put to negotiate. So right now, we haven't seen anything yet. That's why we are discussing what else we can do. We are expecting to adopt the 19th package of sanctions this week - unfortunately not today - but we have a leaders' meeting coming up on Thursday," said Kallas.

The upcoming sanctions package is expected to further tighten restrictions on Russian trade and financial activity, as the EU maintains its commitment to sustaining pressure on the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the European Council confirmed its position to phase out Russian energy imports by January 2028, targeting both natural gas and oil. The move is part of the EU's broader effort to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and strengthen its own energy resilience.

Croatia continues to play a key role in that transition, positioning itself as an important energy transportation hub for Central and Eastern Europe. Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar said the country's infrastructure is ready to support regional needs.

"Croatia clearly presented to everyone - the European Commission and other member states - that the Croatian Adriatic pipeline is more than capable of delivering the required quantities of oil to both Hungary and Slovakia. We have invited everyone to Croatia - primarily Hungary, a friendly and neighborly country - so they can test and verify the pipeline's capacity for themselves," said Šušnjar.

The EU's ongoing discussions come amid heightened geopolitical tensions, as member states seek to balance economic pressures, energy security, and continued support for Ukraine.