Tajani and Tripodi in Luxembourg for the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Topics on the agenda include: Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East and talks with the Lebanese Prime Minister

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, accompanied by Undersecretary Maria Tripodi, is in Luxembourg this afternoon to attend the meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Today's discussion will focus primarily on the war of aggression against Ukraine, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participating remotely. At this meeting, the 27 member states will discuss how to continue exerting pressure on the Russian Federation through the adoption of the twentieth package of sanctions and how to support Kyiv in the reconstruction and stabilisation of Ukraine. The ministers will also address the repercussions of the Russian attack on the UNESCO site in Lviv, including in relation to the initiatives of the 2026 Venice Biennale.

The agenda will continue with a session on the Middle East and a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The focus will be on the prospects for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Gaza, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Tajani will reiterate Italy's willingness to contribute to multilateral initiatives for security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Italy's support for the reform process launched by the Lebanese government and Italy's commitment, alongside international partners, to preventing a security vacuum in the south of the country once UNIFIL's mandate ends.

The ministers will then address ongoing developments in the South Caucasus, with particular attention to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the internal situation in Georgia. Finally, they will discuss the conflict in Sudan, focusing on the follow-up to the Berlin Conference held on 15 April.