EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, speaking at the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July 2026, announced that ministers are expected to agree on 250 new individual listings against Russia, the largest batch so far, in response to recent attacks on Ukrainian civilians. However, the 21st sanctions package remains unagreed due to unresolved questions among member states.
Kallas outlined a packed agenda starting with Ukraine and civilian detainees, noting that the EU is considering a platform to help free civilians detained in occupied territories, including teachers and journalists. She highlighted that information on civilian detainees is harder to obtain than on abducted children. The Council will also discuss the Black Sea strategy, with Bulgaria and Romania cooperating on critical infrastructure protection and hybrid threats. A new Partnership Mission for Armenia is expected to be agreed to counter hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation.
On the Middle East, Kallas mentioned a lunch with Gulf partners to discuss Gulf security, stressing that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free of tolls. She noted that the EU has offered expertise on nuclear power and other issues to help implement the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran. The Council will also discuss the Commission's Options Paper on the Middle East, including potential measures on trade with illegal settlements. Kallas said the Council's legal service considers such trade measures subject to qualified majority voting, but member states hold differing legal opinions.
Other topics include the Western Balkans, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina and the new High Representative, as well as Sudan. On Syria, Kallas stressed the importance of inclusive governance and accountability, offering EU help in institution-building. Regarding Georgia, she said the EU has no connections with the current government but wants to support the Georgian people.
On the 21st sanctions package, Kallas acknowledged that while all member states want the war to end, some are reluctant to bear short-term economic pain from adding entities to the list. She reiterated that anyone who has participated in the war against Ukraine should be barred from entering Europe, though opinions vary among member states. The 250 listings adopted today will have an effect, she said, but work continues on the broader package.