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Foreign Affairs Council: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas after the meeting

European External Action Service (EEAS)

20.10.2025
Luxembourg, 20/10/2025
EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good afternoon, everybody.

European foreign ministers just concluded the discussions on a range of issues.

First, on Ukraine, the fundamentals have not changed. Ukraine has been ready for an unconditional ceasefire already since February, but Russia has no genuine interest in peace. We all support President Trump's efforts to end the war, but Putin will only negotiate seriously if he thinks he is losing.

This week, we aim to adopt a major new sanctions package on Russia. Every euro we deny Russia is one that it cannot use on war. Ministers were also clear today that after the 19th package, we should work on the next package. It will not be the last one. We should also all heed to President Trump's call to stop buying Russian oil and gas.

Ukraine needs more military support, but also more financial support. Ministers today discussed the European Commission's proposal to mobilise frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's immediate defence needs. There was broad support today to get this done, and it is crucial that we make progress on addressing the legal and fiscal modalities this week.

The Reparations Loan can send a very powerful message to Moscow that it cannot outlast us. As we heard from Minister Sybiha, Russia's terror attacks on the energy grid are intensifying. Russia seeks to inflict as much harm on civilians as possible.

So, today, we invited the European Commission to propose additional measures to better support Ukrainian energy security. Member States also agreed to reach out to third countries to secure repair equipment and increase gas deliveries to Ukraine.

On the shadow fleet, Moscow's shadow fleet funds Russia's war and acts as a launch pad for hybrid attacks and today, Ministers discussed a more robust response, including more powers to board shadow fleet vessels.

I have also designated a special envoy coordinator to gather best practices from different Member States across the Union, and also to be acting more swiftly on these points. To further cut Russian war funds, we need a more robust EU-wide approach against the shadow fleet.

Then, on accountability. Last week in Kyiv, we announced €10 million to launch the Special Tribunal for the Crimes of Aggression. Today, 26 Member States committed to becoming parties to this tribunal. This brings us one step closer to operationalise the tribunal. Of course, we are waiting for all cost estimates, also from the Netherlands, and then we can move forward. Putin's regime started this war and must face also the consequences.

Ministers also adopted conclusions on the Indo-Pacific. This region is a key partner to the European Union. Together, we account for over 70% of global trade in goods and services.

Next month, we will host the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Brussels, which will bring together some 80 delegations, making it one of the largest diplomatic gatherings in Europe this year.

This reflects our commitment to closer cooperation with partners on trade, technology and security. Beijing's latest movements to weaponise global supply chains are a direct threat to global trade and the European Union's industrial base. China's actions make it even clearer the case for deeper cooperation with our partners, and this is very clear for everybody.

Then, on the Middle East. The ceasefire in Gaza has just faced its first major stress test. Hamas' attacks on Palestinian civilians and its refusal to disarm make the ceasefire increasingly fragile.

The EU is the largest financial backer of the Palestinian Authority and Gaza's biggest humanitarian donor. Our border assistance mission stands ready to deploy. Today, Ministers discussed how the European Union can put its full weight behind the peace plan, including by providing additional governance and reconstruction support.

Ministers also addressed the European Commission's measures regarding Israel. The ceasefire has changed the context, that is very clear for everybody. However, unless we see real and sustained change on the ground, including more aid reaching Gaza, the threat of sanctions remains on the table.

Then, Moldova. Recent election results show strong support for the European future, but they also highlight the need for improving how the elections are monitored. Today, we shared the lessons learned, and also we agreed to launch an initiative aimed at further modernising the election observation methods to take into account that people are living their lives online. Social media, online content must feature even more when assessing whether elections were transparent and inclusive.

On Georgia, ministers were very clear on the rule of law and human rights situation that continues to deteriorate in Georgia. Personal attacks against European ambassadors are unacceptable and have no place in diplomacy.

The Commission will present its visa suspension mechanism report later this year. With the new regulation on visas entering into force in November, this will give us the opportunity to cancel the visa free regime for some groups.

Later today, we will meet the Ministers from the Black Sea region in Central Asia. Russia's military build-up its shadow fleet, sea mines, GPS jamming, affect us all. We need a collective push to improve security in the Black Sea, and we will discuss this together. We will also meet for the first time in the format with the Ministers from Central Asia to discuss connectivity. I want this to become regular [format]. It will help us stay on top of the work on the transport, energy and digital sectors. Again, to build our partnerships all across the world.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-278733



Q&A.

Q. After what happened again in the oval office in Washington between Donald Trump and President Zelenskyy, would you say that Ukraine should give up the rest of the Donbas to get a deal with Russia? Is that the only solution? Is there anything we can do to prevent that, if it is the only solution? And on the shadow fleet, could you be a bit more specific on what the EU could do more to counter this circumvention?

Thank you. What we must not forget is that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim here. So, putting the pressure on Ukraine, as the victim, is not the right approach. And not only for Ukraine, but also for European security and the global security, because if aggression pays off, it serves as an invitation to use it elsewhere as well. And that's why we have been really on the course and very clear in our strategy. Putting pressure on Russia will end this war. They can end this war immediately, because they are bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure: 93% of Russian attacks have been on civilians, which is against all the international rules. So, if we just give in so that Russia gets what they want, then we will see more of this. We have seen this already in history, several several, several times. So, our approach is clear - we also discussed this with ministers today -, our approach is clear: to help Ukraine to defend itself and also pressure Russia to stop this war. We are doing this with sanctions, putting the pressure there.

On the shadow fleet. We asked all the best practices and all what Member States are doing on shadow fleet, and put together a paper to coordinate really how we can use all these best practices to address the shadow fleet, which is that, of course, we are doing the sanctions, but also how we do the outreach to the third countries, the flag states, how we also use the tools that are in the international law regarding boarding the ships and really investigating what they are doing. We are also doing the international coordination, when it comes to G7 task force we have in place and also the operations that we have already in maritime field, like EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, ASPIDES and Atalanta, the missions that we can also use in this regard, or look into their mandates. We cannot use them now, but look into their mandates how we can really use them in the future. Basically, we have also appointed a coordinator to really coordinate with the Member States in the European External Action Service. And this is to be really effective, because the Russians are very creative in this regard, and we have to be as well to address all these issues. So, to be more effective and also faster in this case.

Q. A follow up question on my colleague's first question. Very concretely, when you say that you welcome President Trump's efforts, my concrete question is, do you still believe peace in Ukraine is possible without territorial concessions? So it is a very concrete question. And if I may, on the 19th package, what is actually preventing it to be done, and if you think it is possible to finalise it before the meeting in Budapest?

Thank you. Yes, we see that the Russian economy is not doing well. Wars end when one party runs out of money, and that is why we are putting sanctions in place. And actually, if you see the signs - what is there? I think we are overestimating the power of Russia and underestimating the power of ourselves to outlast Russia. We have to be very clear here. The other thing is, everybody says territorial integrity is an important value that we stand for. And I think we have to keep to that, because if we just give away the territories, then this gives a message to everybody that you can just use force against your neighbors and get what you want. I think this is very dangerous. That is why we have international law in place that nobody does that. Of course, we have huge problems right now because international law is not followed in many areas of the world. But I think we should stick to that. And there is also a difference between the actual situation and the legal grounds. What you can conquer back is one question, but the other question is also, what you recognise as the territory of another country. I come from a country that was occupied for 50 years, but the majority of the countries in the world did not recognise it to be Russian territory, and that also meant a lot. So, there are a lot of issues. We should stick to our values and principles, that is very clear, and have pressure on Russia to really stop this war.

Q. We all see and observe the situation in Georgia worsen and worsen. Today, a Minister from Germany mentioned that all measures are on the table. You also mentioned Georgia, but if you can be clearer: which kind of measure do you have on the table regarding visa suspension? Can we expect it already in November or in December? Also, about the targeted sanctions, and maybe sanctions regarding hybrid threats or propaganda? And also, you mentioned that now there will be the meeting with Black Sea and Central Asian countries. I saw a document and the place of Georgia is empty. Am I correct that Georgia will not be on this meeting, so a representative from Georgia wasn't invited on this meeting?

Thank you. As you know, we have proposed several measures under different sanctions regimes. So far, we have not been able to adopt them because not all Member States have been supportive.

When it comes to the visa, the Commission will present its visa suspension mechanism later this year, then also putting forward the regulation on visas and certain groups. As it is not my competence, I will not comment in detail, but this should be the case.

When it comes to the meeting today, Georgia was not invited at the ministerial level.

Q. So, just in 24 hours, two of my colleagues were detained in Tbilisi just because they participated in fully peaceful protest in Tbilisi, and also others were detained in last days. How would you assess this situation in Georgia, these political repressions? Also, does the EU still consider Georgia as a candidate country under these conditions, when we have these repressions, political prisoners, repressive laws, and also that crackdown on media and civil society?

These are exactly the worries the Member States brought up, because the room for civil society and journalists is really shrinking and the measures that the Georgian Government is taking against free media, against civil society, against the protesters, goes against all the principles that we value in the European Union. And that is why, of course, the question that you also raised about them being a candidate to become European Union members - with these measures, it is impossible to consider that it will be the case, because this is going totally in another direction with what Europe represents. Thank you.

Q. I'd like to ask you about a follow up on what you said about Gaza and the Middle East. So, this morning, you told us you would give us an update after these talks on what Ministers said about sanctions. You put sanctions on the table against members of the Israeli government. There is a measure proposed regarding trade. Will those move forward, or do you think it is time to shelf them, given the developments? And can I just follow up briefly: the French Foreign Minister also said he would like to see EUBAM Rafah expanded in its mission. Was that discussed? Would you be in favor of that?

Thank you. Of course, the context has changed since the measures were put on the table. So, we discussed today, and there were very divergent views. What is something that we landed on, is that we do not move with the measures now, but we do not take them off the table either, because the situation is fragile. Also we need to see the improvement of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza. We need to see also Palestinian revenues to be given to Palestine - or released by the Israeli authorities. We need to see journalists and humanitarian aid workers getting in. We need to see also the international NGOs' registration be unrestricted. These were the worries that Member States raised. For now, we are not taking them off the table, but we are not moving with them either, because the situation is very fragile. When it comes to EUBAM Rafah, the discussion was on 'what more can we do in order to contribute to the peace plan'. When the peace plan was issued, we immediately put together at the European level what we could contribute to each point of the peace plan. And there are two missions that we have: EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS. They are also part of what we could contribute - also to discuss the expansion of the mandate. What I want to stress is that EUBAM Rafah needs the approval from both Egypt and Israeli authorities to function. We stand ready to redeploy, and we need the approval also from them.

Q. I would really want to know if, besides the lesson learned after Moldovan elections, whether today's discussion among the foreign affairs Ministers brought Moldova any closer towards opening the first negotiation clusters.

Yes, enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos was also making the points of Moldova's development in this regard to be ready to move there. Of course, we have obstacles when it comes to our decision-making processes on the European level, so we are working on them right now. Today, we are not the adopting any decision, but there was a wide consensus in the room that supported Moldova's accession.

Q. I would like to ask if there were any discussion suggesting that Moldova could join the European Union without full voting rights, if you know anything about this, and if you discuss this among Member States there?

No, there was no such discussion.

Q. You mentioned the financial support for Ukraine, but there is also the question of the military support. It seems that there is a sharp drop in the military support from the EU Member States since this summer. And there is also your initiative to offer two million ammunition rounds to Ukraine, which is apparently lagging. So, is there any solution towards this problem?

Thank you. It is true that in addition to the financial support, Ukraine also needs the military support to outlast. We have been doing an extensive reach out to the Member States who can do more. When it comes to the ammunition initiative, from 2 million rounds, we are still missing like 300,000 and really, I reached out to Member States, because under the Czech initiative, there is 1 million rounds available now. So, either we need from the Member States some reallocation of funds or a contribution in means. Of course, we have several instruments also on the table, like the SAFE instrument. Thirteen countries out of nineteen who are saying that they are using this instrument also say that they want to use this to support Ukraine. So, there are several things that we also wish to do. And this is true that they need the help. Also, what is important is the support and cooperation, I would say, with the Ukrainian defence industry. Because, right now, for the drones that are attacking Ukraine and their drone factories, or anti-drone systems - there is something that we can also contribute to. But we can also learn a lot and actually win from this, because our Member States are also in threat of drone attacks. So, I think it could be a win-win solution there. Thank you.

Q. I want to ask you about Donald Trump, President of the United States. How do you see him? He has now the meeting with Putin and Putin and himself, without Zelensky. Is he a reliable partner for Europe, and how do you deal with this partner?

I think President Trump is sincere in trying to end this war. So, that is very clear. We also want to end this war. Ukrainians definitely want to end this war. Who does not want to end this war is Russia. We should not be distracted. I think our course here is very, very clear. Our point is that we have to make also Russia to want peace, and that is why we are working also trying to convince our allies all across the world that nothing can come out of these meetings, if Ukraine or Europe, is not part of it.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-279298