Aaretti Siitonen

🇫🇮 and 🇪🇺 diplomat, former 🇺🇲 DoS Fellow; Now serving at the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

The plan to disarm Hamas in Gaza, if fully implemented, would be a constructive step towards peace.

I welcome the deal brokered by the US, with the support of Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and @nmladenov.

A lot needs to fall in place for this to work. Success depends on the full commitment of all parties. Verifying Hamas’ compliance will be a significant challenge. Israel would need to eventually withdraw from Gaza.

We stand ready to support the next steps, including the entry of the National Committee and the International Stabilisation Force. Our two EU missions on the ground play an important role in support of Palestinian state-building efforts.

The EU is Gaza’s biggest humanitarian donor. In July, the EU pledged €900 million in aid projects to help Gaza recover from the war.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

While the world’s attention is on the war in the Middle East, we can’t lose sight of Iran’s repression against its own people.

Today, the EU imposed new restrictive measures on Iranian judges responsible for serious human rights violations, including the persecution of political dissidents and religious minorities. We also sanctioned a leading figure of a cyber group who enabled the regime’s repression of information.

As Tehran intensifies its domestic crackdown, the EU will continue to hold those responsible to account.

[Anouar El Anouni 🇪🇺 @AnouarEUspox]

#Israel/#Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson

https://t.co/ss6ZXNKGR5

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Recent threats by Yemen’s Houthis to impose a maritime blockade on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pose a direct threat to regional stability and constitute a dangerous escalation.

The attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea is unacceptable, illegal, and further inflames an already volatile situation in the region. Navigation must be unimpeded, in the Strait of Hormuz as well as in the Red Sea.

My statement ↓
https://t.co/NSoOcL46Lx

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

A very good first discussion with @andyburnham.

We are both committed to bringing the EU and the UK closer and closer.

Together, we will work towards a successful Summit that delivers for our businesses, our young people and our shared security.

And we will continue our excellent cooperation in support of Ukraine.

Europe is stronger when the EU and the UK work side by side.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Aujourd’hui sur les Champs-Élysées, nous célébrons la liberté, héritage chéri de la France.

Nous le savons ; il n’y pas de liberté sans défense.

Pas de paix durable sans force de la préserver.

Je remercie la France pour son engagement.

Car l'armée française fait la force de l’Europe.

Et protège la liberté de notre Union tout entière.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

We’re sanctioning Russia at speed and scale.

Today’s measures, together with the upcoming 21st sanctions package, will add 250 individuals and entities to the Russia sanctions regime.

This is our biggest round of individual designations since Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion, and includes also the EU’s largest-ever cyber sanctions package.

The financial backbone of Russia’s war machine is the main target. Every measure weakens Moscow’s ability to wage war.

My doorstep ahead of today’s Foreign Affairs Council ↓

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

Last night, the Russian regime once again blindly attacked civilians from the air, with over 400 drones and missiles attacking the capital.

Ukraine urgently needs more air defence. We will discuss it this week in Ankara at the @NATO Summit.

Last week we provided the first €4 billion under our €90 billion loan, to strengthen Ukraine's defence with advanced drone technology.

More is coming very soon.

And we are working hard to seal the deal on the 21st sanctions package in the next days.

We will keep increasing the pressure until Russia ends the bloodshed.

[Roberta Metsola @EP_President]

Happy Birthday, America! Here's to the next 250 years 🇪🇺🇺🇸

[Alexander Stubb @alexstubb]

I wish to extend our warm congratulations to the people of the United States on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

As a young student at Furman Unversity I remember reading the Federalist Paper and the Declaration of Independence.

”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Finland's ties to the United States reach back to its founding. Among the signers of the Declaration was John Morton, a Founding Father who is remembered for being of Finnish descent.

The United States and the Federalist Papers have played an important role in laying the foundation for constitutional democracies across the world.

Today as friends and allies our countries work together more closely than ever. Finland looks forward to the next 250 years of friendship and partnership.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv. Only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow can do that.

This week, the EU has started disbursing €6 billion under the €90 billion support loan to strengthen Kyiv’s defences.

Today, I will propose to sanction more entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex in response to the strikes. The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions must be imposed.

We keep raising the cost until Russia understands it cannot win.

EU staff in Kyiv are accounted for. I am deeply grateful to our colleagues on the ground, who continue their work with courage and dedication under the most difficult circumstances.

[Michael Mann @MichaelMannEU]

An honour to speak to @shayharzvi1 at the Herzliya Conference @IPS_Herzliya. We discussed the importance and future trajectory of EU-Israel ties. We do have fundamental policy differences, especially on MEPP, but are ready to reset our relations, if and when conditions allow.

[Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen]

I welcome the agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

This is a critical step away from escalation. Because there can be no peace in the Middle East with Lebanon in flames.

My thanks to the US for the mediation.

Key next steps are the disarmament of non-state groups and preserving Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The EU stands ready to support this path to lasting regional stability, also with the continued delivery of much needed humanitarian aid with € 100 million mobilised for the displaced.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Dear Gideon, as you know, the EU and Israel have a lot that binds us. I value our dialogue and engagement, and I’m open to continue in that spirit, respectfully and constructively. Dialogue is the foundation of diplomacy, especially when differences arise. The EU is always committed to a constructive relationship with Israel.

To bring peace to the Middle East, the Two-State Solution remains the only viable path. The EU has condemned the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank that make it increasingly difficult to get to that goal. That is the EU position.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Civil society is not an afterthought in diplomacy, it is indispensable for building peace.

The EU now partners with 88 Israeli and Palestinian civil society organisations, fostering dialogue, strengthening women’s leadership and supporting independent media.

To date, we have mobilised over €20 million for grassroots peacebuilding efforts.

My speech at the Two-State Solution Forum in Paris ↓

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

The drone explosion in the port of Constanța shows that Russia’s war is increasingly spilling over into EU territory.

I spoke with Foreign Minister @oana_toiu about today's developments and expressed the EU’s full solidarity with Romania.

The ultimate responsibility for what happened rests squarely with Russia. As President Zelenskyy told Putin in an open letter yesterday: Moscow can stop this war any day.

Next week, EU Defence Ministers will discuss how to further ramp up our support for Ukraine and increase the EU’s own defence readiness.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

The latest ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon offers a chance to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities.

But the death of a UNIFIL peacekeeper and continued skirmishes underscore the tenuous nature of what was agreed.

The best way to reduce the threat posed by Hezbollah is to strengthen the Lebanese state, empower its institutions, and restore its monopoly on the use of force.

To support this effort, the EU today agreed to provide an extra €100 million to Lebanon’s Armed Forces.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

The Russian drone crash into apartments in Galați was a blatant and serious violation of Romania’s sovereignty and European airspace.

I spoke with Foreign Minister @oana_toiu this morning to convey the EU’s full solidarity with Romania.

Russia has long ago stopped respecting borders.
Moscow cannot be allowed to breach European airspace with impunity.

EU Foreign Ministers yesterday vowed to ramp up pressure on Russia, increase support for Ukraine, and invest in Europe’s own defence readiness.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Russia wants us to discuss who talks to them,
And they are already picking who is suitable for that.

Let's not walk into that trap.

Negotiations are always a team effort, with a defined strategy.

That’s why the substance that we discuss today in Cyprus matters much more.

My press remarks ahead of today’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers ↓

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

The EU and its Member States remain the world’s largest and most reliable donors of humanitarian aid.

Today, we are presenting our new approach to humanitarian diplomacy.

We will make better use of every tool at our disposal to safeguard aid delivery, secure humanitarian access, protect civilians, and ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

It will also help ensure that humanitarian issues are front and centre in our external action.

https://t.co/MOsfF2KWB4