Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden has reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression, emphasizing that European Union assistance is crucial to countering Moscow’s ambitions. Frieden warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objectives extend beyond Ukraine, underscoring the importance of continued military and financial support to preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and prevent further territorial expansion by Russia.
Following an EU summit on Friday, Frieden highlighted that abandoning Ukraine would enable Russia to achieve its geopolitical goals. EU leaders, during the summit, also agreed to tighten restrictions on tourist visas for Russian citizens, aiming to decrease their numbers while stopping short of a complete ban. Frieden mentioned plans to collaborate with Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel to devise Luxembourg’s strategy for implementing these measures.
The summit also addressed migration policy, though no consensus was reached among EU leaders. Frieden called for a balanced approach, rejecting the notion of blaming migration for Europe’s social and economic issues. He advocated for coordinated European efforts to manage irregular migration effectively.
Frieden acknowledged progress under the EU’s asylum and migration framework, noting a decline in irregular entries and an increase in the return of individuals without legal permission to remain in Europe. He also stressed that legal migration is essential to the European economy, particularly in Luxembourg, where foreign workers significantly contribute to meeting labor market demands.