Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden has reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression. Following a recent European Union summit, Frieden emphasized the importance of sustained military and financial aid to Ukraine, highlighting the threat posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Frieden stated that yielding to Russian pressures or abandoning Ukraine would enable Moscow to fulfill its objectives. He underscored that continued support is crucial for defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and curbing further Russian expansion. Additionally, EU leaders at the summit decided to tighten restrictions on Russian citizens seeking tourist visas, aiming to limit their numbers without imposing a total ban. Frieden mentioned plans to work with Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel to determine Luxembourg’s specific approach to implementing these measures.
The summit also addressed migration policy, although no consensus was reached among EU leaders. Frieden advocated for a balanced strategy, dismissing broad-blame approaches that attribute Europe’s social and economic challenges to migration. He called for coordinated European policies to manage irregular migration effectively.
Highlighting progress under the EU’s asylum and migration framework, Frieden noted a decrease in irregular entries and an increase in the repatriation of people without permission to remain in Europe. He stressed the importance of legal migration for Europe’s economy, particularly for Luxembourg, where foreign workers are essential to meeting labor market demands.