Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the meeting

Good morning.

[At today’s Foreign Affairs Council it is] more of the same – Ukraine and Middle East. In both [places] the situation is becoming worse.

In Ukraine the grain exports have become a problem again. Russia is hitting the ships [in the Black Sea], in three [latest] cases. The ships transporting grain have been attacked by the Russians. We have to increase our support. That is the only possible solution from our side.

We will continue discussing about how to unblock the European Peace Facility payments and how to increase the air defence capacity [of Ukraine].

We have to end the cycle of “they destroy, we repair.” We have to avoid destruction. The winter is already there, the electricity system continues being hit and the war continues. Ukrainians are resisting but they need more support.

So, today the Member States will discuss [it], they will listen to the new Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine [Andrii Sybiha, via videolink] and we will – I hope – take some decisions in order to increase our support.

• Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-262174