José Manuel Albares calls for unity in the EU to achieve peace that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity

EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at the Extraordinary Council held by videoconference

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has stated that his European counterparts need to stand united and maintain pressure on Russia to engage in credible negotiations leading to a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine's territorial integrity.

At the EU's Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council, held by videoconference, ministers also discussed the grave situation in Gaza and Israel's threat to occupy the entire territory.

The Council meeting was attended by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, during the part dedicated to Ukraine. The minister reminded him of Spain's full support, as the president of the Government of Spain himself recently did, because along with the fate of his country, "international law is at stake, as well as the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for borders, as set out in the United Nations Charter."

Europe and Ukraine must be in the negotiation

Albares also insisted that whatever is decided on Ukraine affects Europe and therefore Europeans must also be involved in the negotiations, which must be preceded by "an unconditional and verifiable ceasefire as a first step towards a just and lasting peace."

"Europe and Ukraine want peace," says the minister, "but there must be no reward for aggression; there can be no decision on Ukraine without Ukraine; and there can be no debate on Europe's security without Europeans," he concluded.

Israel's unacceptable decision

The situation in Gaza and the total occupation announced by the Israeli government was the other main point of the meeting. For Spain, this is an unacceptable decision that will further endanger the lives of hostages held by Hamas and aggravate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

In this regard, the minister urged the EU to "take action now to prevent a new wave of Israeli violence in Gaza," as "we cannot remain passive in the face of escalating Israeli military occupation and induced famine." "It is time to follow Spain's example and recognise the State of Palestine," he said.

The Spanish foreign affairs minister also drew attention to the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank and called on the EU to continue to move forwards with sanctions against Hamas, violent settlers and those who sabotage the two-state solution.

Along these lines, the minister called on member states to adopt, as Spain has done, an embargo on arms sales to Israel, based on Common Position 2008/944, which explicitly obliges member states to halt exports to war scenarios such as Gaza.

Finally, Albares again called for the suspension of the EU's Association Agreement with Israel, in compliance with its second article, which links its maintenance to respect for human rights by both parties, recalling the Commission's report which clearly states that there is a systematic violation of human rights in Gaza by Israel.

Non official translation