Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Affairs;
Credit: © SIP / Claude Piscitelli
On Monday 11 August 2025, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, participated in an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), held via videoconference.
Topics on the agenda included the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
According to Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the Grand Duchy welcomes the efforts made to achieve a ceasefire and a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, including the initiatives of the United States aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to this conflict. In this regard, Minister Bettel emphasised the fundamental principle that nothing should be decided on Ukraine without Ukraine. He added that meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction in hostilities and warned that proposals demanding significant territorial concessions from Ukraine as a precondition for talks or a partial ceasefire are "unacceptable". A just and lasting peace must result from negotiations that fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Minister Bettel also stressed the importance of the unity of the European Union, which continues to play a crucial role by providing substantial military and financial support to Ukraine.
On the Middle East, Minister Bettel "deeply regretted" the Israeli government's announcement regarding the intensification of the military occupation of Gaza. He argued that this decision will only exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis and risks causing the death and forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. It also risks further endangering the lives of the remaining hostages. Furthermore, Minister Bettel "deeply deplored" the recent killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli army.
The top priority remains the immediate establishment of a ceasefire, the large-scale provision of humanitarian aid and the unconditional release of all hostages. Minister Bettel reaffirmed the need for a united position at the European level, deemed an essential condition for exerting concerted and effective pressure on the Israeli authorities.
The minister added that the Gaza Strip must remain an integral part of a future independent and sovereign Palestinian state, alongside the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with the two-state solution. He said the implementation of this solution remains essential to ensuring Palestinian unity, guaranteeing Israel's security and promoting the advancement of lasting peace in the region. Moreover, Hamas must play no role in future governance or security arrangements in Gaza and must be disarmed, according to the minister.
