EU foreign ministers are expected to impose more sanctions on Russia and agree to provide additional support to Ukraine on Monday.

Their talks in Luxembourg are also scheduled to focus on the conflict in the Middle East and relations with China.

Top EU diplomats are likely to sanction dozens of other ships for being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a term referring to the oil tankers and cargo ships Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions.

Kaya Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, said last week that she expected ministers would also agree to target more individuals and organizations with asset freezes and entry bans for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Also on the table will be the bloc’s 21st sanctions package – an additional set of measures that could include an EU entry ban for Russian soldiers who fought in the war against Ukraine – but a decision on this is expected at a later stage.

Discussions are also underway about how to use 6.6 billion euros ($7.6 billion) from an EU military fund allocated to Ukraine, payments from which had previously been blocked by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The European Union announced before the weekend that it was starting formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Monday.

The bloc had officially opened accession talks with the two countries in June 2024, but the start of substantive negotiations with Ukraine was blocked by Hungary under Orban’s leadership.

Along with Ukraine, the ministers intend to discuss developments in the Middle East, including possible measures against Israel over its support for Israeli settlers in the West Bank and its actions in the Gaza Strip.

The European Union’s relations with China are also on the agenda.