Scholz urges increased EU aid for Ukraine, deems current support insufficient
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany (Photo: Getty Images)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has deemed the financial aid allocated by European Union countries to Ukraine this year insufficient. Berlin urges member states to increase defense support, reports Die Zeit.
According to the German Chancellor, the amounts that European countries have currently envisaged for this year and included in the budget to assist the Ukrainian side are "not large enough."
"In this regard, I'm currently having many phone calls with my colleagues, and I ask them to do more," said Scholz.
The German Chancellor also expressed the opinion that it would be "self-confident to believe that we can do it alone in the long term."
Germany's position on aid to Ukraine
In recent weeks, Berlin has repeatedly called on other European countries to strengthen support for Ukraine.
On January 9, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that the planned arms supplies to Ukraine by most EU member countries were "insufficient." Following his statement, Brussels is conducting an audit to determine how much weaponry EU member states have provided to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Additionally, on January 23, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would allocate six multi-role Sea King helicopters to Ukraine.
European Peace Fund
It was previously reported that some EU countries, especially those in the eastern part of the bloc, insist on expanding the European Peace Fund (EPF), a joint fund that partially finances the supply of weapons to Ukraine, to increase deliveries and share the burden of expenses.
Earlier, Brussels proposed allocating 5 billion euros annually for the next four years through the European Peace Fund to support Ukraine. From these funds, Brussels aims to help EU member countries cover their expenses for purchasing and transferring weaponry to Ukraine, such as ammunition, missiles, and tanks.
