EU foreign and defence ministers met in Brussels on Monday to approve a mission aimed at destroying boats used by people smugglers in Libya.

It forms part of the bloc’s response to the number of migrants making the deadly crossing to Europe across the Mediterranean.

The EU will also seek approval for the plans via a resolution passed at the United Nations’ Security Council.

“My trips in New York were showing, I have seen at least, no major political resistance or opposition to a resolution. Obviously once we adopt the decision to establish the operation today,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters in Brussels.

But Vladimir Chizov, Russia’s envoy to the EU, was quoted by the Financial Times earlier this month as saying destroying vessels would be going too far.

“Apprehending human traffickers and arresting these vessels is one thing,” he told the newspaper on May 5. “But destroying them would be going too far.”

Diplomats in Brussels argue by destroying