Informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers: High Representative Kaja Kallas at the press conference
European External Action Service (EEAS)
22.09.2025
New York, 22 September 2025
EEAS Press Team
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Good afternoon,
It is good to be in New York. We just finished the Foreign Affairs Council meeting together with Brazilian, Mexican and Indian colleagues. It was an important discussion ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
So, a few topics, basically in a broader picture two: Middle East and Ukraine.
First, on the Middle East. The situation in Gaza is a devastating failure of humanity. The Israeli Government must lift all humanitarian restrictions immediately. Expanding settlements and annexing territory are incompatible with peace, and it is clear that Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages.
In the European Union, we have tried to put the focus on helping the people on the ground and really improving the humanitarian situation. We are the largest humanitarian donor and a strong supporter of the Palestinian Authority.
Ministers were clear that the two-state solution is the best chance to a lasting peace. This means a safe and secure Israel and viable Palestinian state. Today, just as we finish here, we go to this two-state solution conference, [that] can help to revive the momentum towards that goal.
Of course, we also addressed Russia's war against Ukraine. Russia is showing absolute contempt for any attempt of diplomacy. Prospects of peace recede with every Russian airstrike. Moscow's repeated violations of the European Union´s airspace are reckless, dangerous and risk situations that can get out of hand, and we need to stand firm.
In response to Moscow's escalation, the EU presented a new sanctions package last week. This is hitting Russian banks, energy companies, crypto exchanges and Chinese companies enabling the war. Any source of income for the Kremlin to fund its war is a necessary target.
In parallel, we are also increasing our support to Ukraine. Europe's military aid to Ukraine is at record high in 2025, with €25 billion so far, and we are also exploring ways to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
The impact of Russia's war stretches beyond Europe. Every day Russia breaches the core principles of UN Charter. Together with our colleagues, today we were also discussing that multilateral order is really something that we all need to defend, and the UN Charter is at its core.
The EU's relations with Brazil, India and Mexico are important economically, but also for protecting the rules-based international order. Last week, the European Union unveiled its new blueprint to deepen ties with India. With Mexico, we are updating our free trade agreement, and a few days ago, I was in Brazil, where talks about the future of the international order were front and centre of our discussions.
As we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, it is clear that the global order is under heavy fire. This is an argument for a better and more efficient United Nations. Our message today to our partners was simple. The European Union is a reliable actor. We support multilateralism. We support free trade and world grounded in the UN Charter.
Together, we are stronger to uphold these values. And with that, I'm happy to take questions.
Q&A
Q. You haven't yet mentioned the Iran nuclear talks and snap back. Iranian sources are saying that there is a meeting planned between the Europeans, including yourself, and the Iranian Foreign Minister. Can you confirm that? And can you tell us, given the deadline is fast approaching on Saturday, what do you think are the chances of avoiding snapback?
Well, I stand ready for all the talks and also a diplomatic solution. It is clear that there has to be an agreement in the end that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is the worry that all the countries also around Iran and the wider space have. As I've said before, I'm really willing to explore the ways to find a diplomatic solution. And it is true that the snapback has been triggered, and we have limited time to come to a conclusion.
What are the chances?
Hard to tell.
Q. You say that you have to have a firm response to Russia, especially after these latest incursions. Does that mean that NATO should be shooting down Russian planes?
It is clear that Russia is testing us, how far it can go. It is also trying to sow fear without within our societies. That if we are supporting Ukraine, then this war comes to other territories and is expanding, and that is why we have to be very firm on this. Now, as the Polish Prime Minister today said, if the planes are violating airspace, every country has the right to defend itself and act accordingly. And this is, I think, important to understand that everybody has an obligation in front of their own citizens that these kinds of incursions, are not happening.
Q. I would like to go back to the Palestinian issue, given the debate today that's going to be at the UN. Has there been any movement, in your discussions today, for sanctions against Israel that were put on the table last week?
We briefly discussed this, and many Ministers asked, how do we proceed with this. Of course, today we are having this Foreign Affairs Council here in New York, which is a bit of a different setting than we have in Brussels every week. So, we will come back to the issue in October. The will of most Member States who expressed their opinion was that we would proceed quickly to go on with the proposals that were put on the table. So, we will definitely have the discussions in October. Whether we are able to come to a decision in October is hard to tell, as our Ambassadors are currently working on this.
Q. I have a question on Palestine and the recognition of some European and Western countries, recognise the state of Palestine. What is your assessment? Is that another drop in the ocean? Because in terms of what is happening on the ground, it is not going to change much.
All of the European countries support the two-state solution. So, in order to have two states more equal, then the steps of Member States regarding the recognition also have taken place, to send a clear signal that European countries support also Palestinians in this conflict. Now, of course, the two things, the humanitarian situation on the ground that we try to improve all the time is not really dependent on the recognition of the country, but I think these two tracks have to be kept in line. That supporting the two-state solution also means that the two states actually continue to exist.
Q. How divided, though is the EU over the idea of recognizing Palestine? I know, I hear, what you say about the two-state solution, but not everyone is in favour of recognizing Palestine?
Q. The Italian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Tajani today say that recognises Palestine, a state that doesn't exist, is a gift to Hamas. Is that undermining the unity of the European Union this?
It is up to Member States to recognise or not recognise any countries. But I think today, we have a number of countries who are coming forward and recognising - which makes, I think, a majority of European countries recognizing Palestine. Of course, it is a decision of individual Member States to take that step. Regarding Hamas. The European position is also very clear. All the European Member States are saying that Hamas should have no role in the future governance of Gaza. We are also supporting - or putting forward - the additional sanctions on the leadership of Hamas to really put the pressure so that there would be a ceasefire and [release of] hostages. I think these things should be kept separately. If we talk about the two-state solution, then there has to be two states. And that is why the Member States have taken the steps to recognise, so that there would be another state also, in addition to Israel.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-277455
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