The European Union is preparing to step up pressure on both Russia and Iran as global security risks intensify and the rules-based international order comes under strain, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.
Speaking on arrival at the talks in Brussels, Kallas warned that transatlantic relations are no longer what they once were, while major conflicts continue to destabilize key regions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing tensions across the Middle East.
On Ukraine, Kallas said the EU remains deeply skeptical of Russia’s commitment to peace, noting that Moscow’s representatives in recent talks lacked any mandate to negotiate. She accused Russia of intensifying attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure in an effort to force Ukraine into submission during winter, creating what she described as an emerging humanitarian catastrophe. She said EU ministers would discuss additional energy support for Ukraine and confirmed that the bloc plans to place Russia on its money laundering blacklist to curb funding for the war.
Turning to the Middle East, Kallas said Iran would be a central focus of the discussions. She confirmed that the EU is moving forward with new sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to violence against protesters and expects agreement on listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. She said such a step would place the Guard in the same category as groups such as Al Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic State, arguing that those who act as terrorists should be treated accordingly.
Kallas acknowledged concerns that the designation could affect diplomatic operations in Iran but said the risks had been assessed and that diplomatic channels would remain open. She said the measures are intended to send a clear signal that repression comes at a cost.
EU ministers are also set to discuss Syria and Gaza, including concerns over instability in northern Syria and the humanitarian situation in displacement camps, as well as broader efforts to ease tensions in the region.
Beyond Europe and the Middle East, Kallas said the council would address instability in Africa’s Great Lakes region and consider additional steps to support peace and stability there.
On relations with the United States, Kallas stressed that any viable agreement on Ukraine must involve Europe, noting that the war is being fought on the continent and that European support has been critical to Ukraine’s defense. She said lasting peace would require tangible security guarantees to prevent renewed Russian aggression and warned against shifting blame onto Ukraine, which she said is not the aggressor.
The discussions reflect a broader EU push to reinforce sanctions, uphold territorial integrity and sovereignty, and respond more decisively to what Kallas described as mounting challenges to international law.
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