European leaders call for unblocking €3 bln in military aid to Ukraine
Photo: Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock (commons.wikimedia.org)
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has proposed reconsidering the provision of €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine, while Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for its immediate unblocking. This concerns a military support package halted in December, according to Spiegel and tagesschau.de.
Following yesterday’s dispute between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Habeck, a member of the Green Party, called on Germany and Europe to take urgent action.
"Germany and Europe support Ukraine. We will not abandon them. One thing is clear: we all, especially Ukrainians, want peace. How can anyone assume otherwise about President Zelenskyy?" he told Spiegel.
Habeck further emphasized that to ensure the necessary support for Ukraine, "we must do everything possible in the short term."
Spiegel reminded that the German government has been in dispute over the next arms supply package for Ukraine, worth €3 billion. Shortly before Christmas, Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD party halted these plans. According to Habeck, these €3 billion should be allocated primarily to allow Ukraine to procure air defense systems, among other equipment.
"It (air defense) must be capable of protecting human lives. There should be no further delays. The new SPD leadership must change its position on this issue," the vice chancellor stated.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who co-leads the Green Party alongside Habeck, has echoed the same position.
"Our horror is greater than ever before. It is a vile time when we must defend the rules-based international order and the rule of law more than ever against the power of the strongest. The enemy is in the Kremlin, not in Kyiv or Brussels," she stated, adding that it is time to act quickly and unblock the €3 billion.
Additionally, Habeck called for further examination of whether frozen Russian assets could be used to counter Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and how this could be achieved. He added that recent events should have made one thing clear to everyone regarding European security.
"Europe must do more for its own security. To achieve this, we must summon all our determination and strength. This is not a game," Habeck said.
Recently, Bloomberg reported that Germany is discussing the creation of a new fund to increase military spending and support Ukraine amid growing threats. The government is considering several financing options.
