An imminent Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine and its attendant civilian casualties were feared by the EU27 foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 11 April, but humanitarian support for Ukraine was discussed alongside the meeting, in the wake of the ‘Stand up for Ukraine’ campaign which succeeded in raising an additional €10.1 billion for Ukrainian refugees and the 7.1 million internally displaced people.
“We have shared the horror we have found”, said High Representative Josep Borrell, who briefed ministers on his visit to Ukraine with Ursula von der Leyen, citing “murdered civilians” and “human atrocities”.
On the same day, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer travelled to Moscow to meet Mr Putin - a trip he made on his own initiative, welcomed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and cautiously welcomed by Mr Borrell: “We’ll see”, he replied, when asked what he expected from the visit.
The Austrian Minister explained the dual purpose of the project. “We must seize every opportunity to end the humanitarian hell in Ukraine. The Chancellor is setting off with very clear messages, both humanitarian and political”. And he went on to specify, in particular: “We want the war to end. We want humanitarian corridors. We want international humanitarian organisations to be able to do their work”.
The ministers also discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on global food security. “Africa will face definite shortages in the future. We need to think about how best to act”, said Mr Borrell.
Referring to “47 million more people who will suffer from hunger in the world because of the Russian war of aggression”, German Minister Annalena Baerbock, citing UN figures, told the press that she would be going to the Sahel that very evening “to discuss food security in Africa as well”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)