site.btaForeign Minister Georgiev to Discuss War in Ukraine, Tensions in Middle East with EU Counterparts

European Union foreign and defence ministers, including Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev, will gather in Brussels later Tuesday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the defence capabilities of the alliance and the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Georgiev's Ministry reported. The agenda will cover Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, including Syria.

Foreign ministers will formally sign the EU's 17th package of sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine. They are aimed at the so-called Russian shadow fleet, dpa reported. These often uninsured ships with unclear ownership help Russia evade Western restrictions on its oil exports.

Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha will meet his EU counterparts via video conference call after talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian envoys on the cessation of hostilities proposed by Kiev failed to produce concrete results.

Defence ministers will hold a discussion on EU military support to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will join the consultations via video call, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to join the talks in person in Brussels. The ministers will discuss how to improve the EU's defence capabilities and increase military spending, including the proposal for a EUR 150 billion defence fund.