Mark Drakeford is visiting Brussels on Wednesday to meet with diplomats amid mounting concerns over Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.
Wales' First Minister is in the Belgian capital for a series of meetings as part of a programme of Welsh Government events being held this week to celebrate St David’s Day and to reaffirm Wales’ relationships with European nations and regions. The Welsh Government said he would be meeting "key international partners".
Mr Drakeford is expected to discuss the actions taken in Wales in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with assessments underway on how prepared the Welsh authorities are to accept Ukrainian citizens escaping the war.
Welsh Government said work was being done to measure the exposure of local government pension funds in Wales to Russian investments and financial products, while the government will also allocate £4m for humanitarian aid for Ukraine through direct financial aid and medical equipment.
Speaking ahead of the visit Mr Drakeford said: "I am gravely concerned about the horrific and appalling situation in the Ukraine. This is a European conflict, just beyond the borders of the EU.
"As the conflict develops in the short and medium-term, it seems that millions of people will be directly affected in many ways for years to come. The strategic order of Europe has altered and may not be fully stable again for some time.
"Wales’s European identity matters now perhaps more than ever. I want to emphasise our Welsh identity as a European nation sharing the values of freedom, free speech and a peaceful European way of life. I want to build on our strong working relationship with the European Union to deepen and build on our established partnerships with Member States and European Regions."
Get stories like this straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters.
