Informal meeting of CBSS foreign ministers

Poland holds Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The meeting was convened at the initiative of the Polish Presidency around the idea of the need to strengthen the organisation's political dimension and initiate an in-depth discussion among the region's countries on the current security challenges.

The participants took stock of the preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled for this July. They spoke about the progress of the commitments made at the previous NATO summit in The Hague. Another important matter on the agenda was a review of the status of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia from the perspective of the Baltic Sea region.

We want the NATO summit to end in a success, to increase the standing of Europe in relation to the United States, so that we could influence the outcome of the US-Russia negotiations regarding Ukraine.

- Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski said.

The Baltic Sea region is particularly interested in achieving and implementing strong security guarantees for Ukraine. Their role should be to prevent the Russian Federation from further aggression, to ensure Ukraine's stability, and to rebuild military deterrence potential. As a result, conditions should be created for economic growth in Ukraine and the region.

We have our demands just as Russia has its own in regard to the future, postwar security architecture. The process must let both Ukraine and all of us rest assured that Russia will not be capable of another aggression.

- Poland's foreign minister observed.

The participants discussed the main challenges of the enlargement process, which is now linked directly to the security dimension. They expressed support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and emphasised the need for the country to align its legislation with the EU acquis.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stressed in a press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski that despite the difficult situation in the Middle East, Ukraine must not slip off the agenda.

Moscow may have lost another ally-Tehran-but the same drones that are hitting Dubai are also hitting Kyiv.

- High Representative Kallas said.

The EU's top diplomat emphasised that the Union is coordinating consular assistance, working to arrange repatriation flights for the EU citizens stranded in the region. She also announced a meeting this Thursday between the EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from the Gulf states.

During the press conference, Minister Sikorski referred to a special report on the consular situation in the Middle East:

As you know, the prime minister has already requested president's approval for an emergency medical flight from Oman. The consular service has compiled a list of 57 persons, mostly from the United Arab Emirates, who could be repatriated as soon as tomorrow.

Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski said that the Polish consular service in Egypt received 736 persons, with some of the evacuees brought from Jordan by sea. Nearly 800 Poles left Jordan, including 300 during the last 24 hours.

Evacuation from Israel is practically over, too; nearly 500 people were evacuated.

- added the minister.

The extraordinary meeting of the CBSS sent a clear message from the countries in the region about their support for Ukraine and about ensuring stability in the Baltic Sea basin. The foreign ministers declared further close-knit cooperation, emphasising that the security of NATO's eastern flank remains an absolute priority of the Polish Presidency of the CBSS.

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The Council of the Baltic Sea States was established in 1992 with Poland as one of its founders. The current members include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the EU. The Council focuses on supporting political dialogue and cooperation, setting strategic priorities and guiding regional initiatives in line with the organisation's long-term priorities, namely Regional Identity, Sustainable & Prosperous Region, and Safe & Secure Region. At present, the Council of the Baltic Sea States runs four main working groups: the Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy, the Task Force Against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Expert Group on Children at Risk, and the Civil Protection Network.

Poland has presided over the Council since 1 July 2025 and will continue in this capacity until 30 June 2026.