EU Foreign Ministers convenes in Kyiv for unprecedented session
The foreign ministers of the European Union's 27 member states have gathered in Kyiv for the first-ever meeting held outside the EU, announced the bloc's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, on October 2.
“We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine, candidate country and future member of the EU. We are here to express our solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people,” Borrell wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During a joint press conference with Borrell, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warmly welcomed the EU officials, stating that their presence in Kyiv "is a message of the unfettered support that the European Union is extending for Ukraine."
Borrell clarified that the meetings in Ukraine's capital would not aim for concrete conclusions but rather take the form of an informal "brainstorming" session between the EU and Kyiv to discuss Europe's present and future support. The EU chief diplomats will also delve into President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposed peace formula to address the ongoing war.
The Foreign Affairs Council, which convenes at least once per month to define and implement the EU's foreign and security policy, is expected to focus on key issues such as Ukraine's potential accession to the EU, military support for Kyiv in its struggle against Russian aggression, and the possibility of tightening sanctions against Moscow.
Prior to this gathering, Borrell visited Ukraine's southern city of Odesa on September 30, where he affirmed the EU's enduring support for Ukraine. Subsequently, in Kyiv, he met with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss Europe's military assistance for Ukraine. (ILKHA)