Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski attends Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg
14.04.2025
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, EU–Africa relations, and the Western Balkans were the main points of a Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Luxembourg on Monday. The session was chaired by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. The EU heads of diplomacy also met with foreign ministers of the Western Balkan countries.
On the topic of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Minister Radosław Sikorski emphasised that Russia, unlike Ukraine, is not ready for a ceasefire and to start talks on a lasting peace, as evidenced by the increasing Russian attacks, including on civilian targets. The Polish MFA head stated that sanctions pressure on Russia should be maintained and military aid for Ukraine should be continued. A comprehensive, just, and lasting peace can only be achieved through force. He called on all European Union member states to engage in making decisions of strategic importance to our common security, such as military aid for Ukraine and the progress of the enlargement process.
While discussing EU–Africa relations, the head of Polish diplomacy presented the conclusions of the EU ministerial meeting with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that he chaired on behalf of High Representative Kaja Kallas in Zimbabwe in March 2025. The minister spoke about, among other things, Russia’s actions undermining the international order and inviolability of borders. He considered that it is key to correctly identify the EU’s interests in Africa and to pursue them more effectively. This year marks 25 years since the first EU–Africa summit. In this context, it is a good opportunity to take stock of EU relations with African countries.
In a discussion with the representatives of the Western Balkan countries, Minister Sikorski stressed that Poland’s priorities under its Presidency of the EU Council include enlargement and achieving accession progress with candidate countries both from the Western Balkans and the East. He highlighted that an intergovernmental conference with Albania, which he is chairing, held today on the margins of the FAC meeting, is an important step on the European path of this country. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sikorski expressed his hope that further accession progress of Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkan countries can be achieved during Poland’s presidency. In this context, he called on the member states to stop resolving bilateral issues during enlargement discussions.
