BERLIN — Germany’s help for Ukraine will likely be “massively expanded” subsequent 12 months, the overseas minister mentioned Monday as Kyiv heads into its second winter since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Germany has turn into one in every of Ukraine‘s top military suppliers since the war started in February 2022, sending material that includes tanks, armored personnel carriers, air defense systems and Patriot missile systems.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said as she arrived Monday at a meeting with European Union counterparts that, even as Europe grapples with the war between Israel and Hamas, it’s nonetheless necessary to “face the geopolitical challenge here.”
She mentioned that can embrace serving to Ukraine via the approaching winter months and “our support will be massively expanded for next year.”
Over the weekend, the Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition needs to extend Germany’s navy help for 2024 from the 4 billion euros initially deliberate to eight billion euros ($8.5 billion). It mentioned parliament’s price range committee might want to log off on the plan later this week.
Officials haven’t confirmed that. But, requested in regards to the report in an interview Sunday with ARD tv, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected the suggestion that it’s attributable to fears the U.S. may cut back its help.
Pistorius mentioned that, based mostly on this 12 months’s experiences, the thought was to keep away from having to hunt extra funding if the cash obtainable is used up rapidly.
“Right now, as Ukraine has to continue its fight and at the same time part of public attention worldwide is directed more toward Israel, this is a strong signal to Ukraine that we won’t leave it in the lurch,” he mentioned.
