Brussels, 27 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - European Union foreign ministers meet on Monday in Brussels to discuss several crises and challenges for the bloc, including the war in Ukraine, relations with the United States and the situation in the Middle East.

Ministers plan to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine after a briefing by their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the situation on the battlefield via video-link.

The top diplomats are to deal with the twice yearly renewal of the bloc's sanctions on Moscow which is due before the end of the month after Hungary refused to green-light the rollover last week.

Turning to the Middle East, ministers plan to discuss developments in Syria as the EU is considering suspending some of its economic sanctions on the country.

The ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip is also on the agenda while the EU is in talks to redeploy its border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza.

The civilian mission was launched in 2005 to assist with trade facilitation and the processing of biometric passports but was suspended in 2007 when Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip.

Gathering for the first time since the inauguration of Donald Trump, EU ministers also plan to discuss the bloc's relations with the US.

Top diplomats are also expected officially to approve suspending visa privileges for Georgian officials over the violent crackdown on pro-European protests in the country after EU ambassadors struck a deal last week.

Ministers had also scheduled for Sunday evening a meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after the presidential elections in Belarus. The European Parliament had denounced the vote as a "sham."

Photo: MIA archive