Today, 12 October, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is attending the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, where the addition of nearly 1,600 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex to the sanctions list has just been approved. According to Tsahkna, this demonstrates that Europe is staying the course and continuing to strengthen sanctions pressure on Russia.
“The sanctions list has been expanded to include 743 individuals and 826 entities whose activities contribute to Russia’s ability to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine. This is the largest addition of individuals and entities to the EU sanctions list to date. It will increase pressure on Russia and limit its ability to continue the war,” Tsahkna said.
In addition to increasing pressure on Russia, further support for Ukraine was also a key focus of today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“Russia has become increasingly brutal in its attacks in recent weeks and continues to show that it is not ready for peace. As Ukraine faces its fifth winter of war, it needs military, economic and political support, and Europe continues to work to provide the assistance required. Estonia believes that frozen Russian assets held in Europe should be used to meet Ukraine’s financial needs,” Tsahkna said.
Discussing Russia’s increasingly frequent acts of sabotage against European countries, Tsahkna stressed that preventing them rests on two important pillars.
“First, all attacks must be attributed to those responsible, as this can deter people recruited to carry them out. Second, opportunities for Russian citizens to travel to Europe must be restricted. The situation in which more than half a million visas allowing entry to the Schengen area are issued to Russian citizens every year must come to an end,” the Foreign Minister said.
European security was also discussed in the context of EU enlargement.
“EU enlargement makes the Union stronger and enhances its security. By bringing countries in our neighbourhood that share our values into the Union, we reduce the opportunities for third countries to undermine our neighbours through disinformation campaigns and other forms of malign influence,” said Tsahkna.
The foreign ministers also discussed developments in the Middle East and Georgia. Before the meeting, they held an informal discussion on hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
While in Luxembourg today, the Foreign Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.
Photos from the meeting of EU foreign ministers.
The Foreign Minister’s doorstep interview ahead of the meeting.
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