For 999 days now, Russian troops have been causing devastation and untold suffering in Ukraine. Ukraine is now entering its third winter in this war. Half of the country’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged, and Russian troops are terrorising people in Ukraine on a daily basis with repeated new waves of attacks, especially aerial attacks. For 999 days now, the EU, the US and Germany have been standing firmly by Ukraine’s side. We must now maintain this unity, because a just and lasting peace for Ukraine cannot be reached without consulting the people in Ukraine and in Europe.

The EU and Germany are reliable partners: The EU training and assistance mission EUMAM Ukraine has been extended to November 2026 and, together with the United States, G7 financial assistance in the amount of 50 billion dollars has been pledged. Germany has also confirmed it will provide an additional 200 million euro in emergency humanitarian assistance for this winter. Moreover, in 2024, a total of a quarter billion euro is being made available for strengthening the energy sector, so that electricity and heat can be supplied to people in Ukraine.

Following the presidential elections in the United States, today’s Foreign Affairs Council will now discuss the transatlantic partnership and further support for Ukraine. The United States is and will remain our most important partner outside the European Union. At the same time, Europe must assume greater responsibility for security and must increase its investments in Europe’s security – not to take the place of, but in order to contribute to, the transatlantic partnership. This includes significantly strengthening NATO’s European pillar.

Transatlantic cooperation is becoming even more important because Russia is receiving support from other countries for its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. This concerns not only Russia’s deployment of North Korean soldiers, but also support from China and Iran: already at their last Foreign Affairs Council in October, EU Foreign Ministers imposed sanctions on Iran in response to its delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia. Today, the Foreign Affairs Council will adopt additional sanctions against Iran, because Russia’s war of aggression affects fundamental interests of European security.

Situation in the Middle East

Germany and the EU are doing everything within their power to end the dying in Gaza and to enable access for urgently needed humanitarian assistance. A large proportion of the more than two million people there is suffering from acute malnutrition, living in unimaginable conditions. Israel’s right to self-defence is limited by international humanitarian law. This includes the stipulation that humanitarian access must be guaranteed at all times and must never be misused as a method of warfare. The Israeli Government must let in more deliveries, so that supplies such as food, water, medicines, hygiene articles and tents can finally reach people in Gaza. This requires the opening of all border crossings for humanitarian assistance and the full cooperation of all parties with the United Nations and the organisations that are providing assistance, in order to establish reliable and safe routes for emergency supplies and medical evacuations.

We have emphasised time and again that the Israeli army must adapt the conduct of its operations accordingly. This includes ending heavy fighting in Gaza and seriously pursuing a ceasefire – including in Lebanon. The EU is working to provide greater assistance to the Lebanese armed forces, and it most strongly condemns attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission of the United Nations along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Concern about developments in Georgia

For several months, we have observed how the Georgian Government has been turning its back on the norms and values of the European Union. International election observers have now also confirmed that irregularities occurred in Georgia’s parliamentary elections on 26 October. We are calling for a full and transparent inquiry into all complaints and accusations. EU relations with Georgia must also be reassessed, including European Union support measures for Georgia in the context of the accession process.

EU support in the Horn of Africa

The disastrous situation in the Sudan, which is currently experiencing the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, is also again a subject of the discussions in Brussels. Germany is campaigning for an arms embargo and a new sanctions package targeting high-ranking members of the military, in order to increase pressure on the parties to the conflict and for the purpose of finally reaching a ceasefire. With a view to stabilising Somalia, the EU is also prepared to support the planned successor mission to the African Union’s AUSSOM mission with funding from the European Peace Facility that would be limited in time and scope.