On 19 April 2021, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, at the invitation of the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, took part in an online meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the European Union Member States.

The Minister informed his colleagues in detail about Russia’s aggravation of the security situation in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict zone and along the Ukrainian state border. He outlined the threats posed by Russia’s current actions for Ukrainian and European security.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister proposed a step-by-step action plan to deter Moscow from further escalation, which key element is the development of a new package of sectoral sanctions that should be implemented immediately in the event of a new phase of Russian aggression.

“We are grateful to the EU for all the steps taken since 2014 to raise the price for Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, at this stage, personal sanctions are no longer enough. It is necessary to hold an internal discussion in the EU now in order to develop a new package of sectoral sanctions which will be introduced immediately in case of a new stage of aggression by Russia,” the Minister said.

The EU and all Member States have stated that they remain united in their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that they are ready to further strengthen their support and exert consistent pressure on the Russian Federation.

The European Union praised Ukraine’s efforts to reach a political and diplomatic settlement based on the Minsk agreements, and Kyiv’s balanced and wise response to Russia’s attempts to provoke an escalation.

The participants also discussed Russia’s illegal actions in the Azov-Black Sea area, the militarization of the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as of the Black and Azov Seas. Dmytro Kuleba discussed with his EU colleagues possible ways to respond to violations of the international maritime law in the context of Russia’s closure of the Kerch Strait and its blockade of the Sea of Azov.

The Minister confirmed the invitation to all EU Member States to take part in the inaugural Summit and further work of the Crimean Platform.

The participants of the meeting paid special attention to further internal transformations in Ukraine aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to EU membership. Dmytro Kuleba noted the importance of giving Ukraine a clear prospect of EU membership. According to him, Russia’s aggressive policy against Ukraine will be finally overcome when Moscow realizes that Ukraine is an integral part of the Western democratic world.