European Council: Doorstep remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas

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We have a long agenda today, of course, very important topics like energy and single market, but from my competencies, it is, of course, what is happening in Middle East and Ukraine.

So first on Middle East, the Iran's attacks on Qatar energy infrastructure create further chaos, and it is clear that we need an exit from this war, not escalation. And that is why I have been also doing the diplomatic outreach to Iran to find different solutions.

To be very clear, I talked to the minister before the execution of the Swedish citizen, so I was not able to raise that. But in my future calls, I will definitely do that also raise all the issues that we have.

We have United Nations here today, and we are also working closely with them to find a safe passage for the ships via the Strait of Hormuz, because it is really a problem for especially Asia as well as Africa, that the oil, gas, but also fertilisers and food does not move from the Strait of Hormuz because it is not safe at the moment.

Then, of course, Ukraine, we will discuss today. And the big question in the room is the support loan - How can we proceed with the support loan that was agreed already in December by the leaders? And it is really time to show our support to Ukraine, because the war in the Middle East is connected to the war in Ukraine, and unfortunately, Russia is gaining from the war in the Middle East. So, that is why I mean, exiting or ending this war is equally important to have a solution, also, for Ukraine, that is not complete surrender to Russia.