Foreign Minister George Vella today called on Russia to commit towards stabilisation in east Ukraine, an end to the carnage in Gaza and a resumption of the political process in the Middle East.
At a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Dr Vella joined colleagues in expressing condolences to the Netherlands and other member states that lost citizens in the Malaysian Air incident and condemned those responsible for bringing down the airliner.
He called on Russia to be more cooperative and commit towards contributing to the stabilisation of Eastern Ukraine, starting with an immediate ceasefire.
Ministers agreed to undertake to prepare for the adoption of further targeted measures should Russia fail to stop the increasing flow of weapons, equipment and militants across the border and achieve rapid and tangible results towards de-escalation.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on CNN the “EU certainly needs to act by the end of this week to impose further sanctions on Russia”.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Dr Vella expressed deep concern at the ongoing violence and mounting death toll that included innocent Palestinian civilians.
While condemning the rocket attacks from Gaza targeting Israel he called on Israel to ensure that its military response be proportionate. He called on both sides to agree immediately on a ceasefire and stop the carnage.
Dr Vella insisted that the escalation in Gaza was not the main issue, but the symptom of a wider situation, pausing the peace process and halting prospects that a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians would happen any time soon.
Hopes were being extinguished by the ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territory, the blockade of Gaza and daily violations of the basic rights of the Palestinian people.
“It is therefore imperative that the international community address not only the need for a ceasefire but also a resumption of a more comprehensive political process,” he said.
Dr Vella welcomed the adoption of the council conclusions which, for the first time, set out a full set of parameters which the EU believed would define the basis for a successful outcome of negotiations once these resumed.
The minister also raised the situation in Libya and stressed the importance that the EU remained vigilant about the ongoing deterioration of security with ramifications for the immediate region.
In the afternoon, he attended the eastern partnership ministerial meeting which discussed the EU's relations with its eastern partners, the ongoing political situation in the region and the impact of the Ukrainian crisis.