Baltic Sea Ministers Step Up Ukraine Coordination, Urge EU to Unlock €90 Billion and Curb Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Overview

• Foreign ministers from CBSS countries met in Warsaw on 4 March to deepen regional coordination on support for Kyiv and to prepare for the NATO summit in Ankara in July.
• Germany’s Johann Wadephul labeled Russia Europe’s chief security threat, pressed for swift disbursement of the agreed €90 billion EU package for Ukraine, and criticized Hungarian obstruction.
• Participants called for tougher sanctions and measures targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, with Estonia praising Belgium and France for blocking a suspect vessel in the North Sea.
• Estonia said support must not waver as it consulted Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha, backing the launch of the EU loan and pushing for a robust 20th EU sanctions package on Russia.
• Poland, Latvia and partners emphasized reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank, countering hybrid threats and handling Middle East evacuations without letting Ukraine slip from focus.