EU ministers meet in Brussels as ‘new momentum’ gives Europe hope on Ukraine – Europe live

Morning opening: 'New momentum' gives Europe hope on Ukraine EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels this morning to discuss the latest on Ukraine , the Middle East, and the western Balkans. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrives for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA The talks will focus on the situation in Ukraine, with Kyiv’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha hailing “a new feeling of momentum” as he arrived for discussions this morning. “ We have a new reality on the battlefield. Ukraine became stronger after the most difficult winter. … We stabilised the front and we are also in the position that we closed the sky … [can] shoot down up to 90% of aerial objects by which Russians attack us.” Somewhat mysteriously, he also added: “We noticed new some very interesting developments in Russia, not only in the economy. So we are following them.” But there appears to be very little appetite to take seriously Putin’s claims that the war in Ukraine could be coming to an end, with several leaders saying it was probably the latest of his attempts to deceive European leaders about his intentions. Latvia’s foreign minister Baiba Braže summed it up best: “ We believe that when we see it in action. For now, even during the so-called ceasefire that he begged for, we have not really seen the cessation of hostilities. …