German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock, 12 February 2025. Photo: Michel Eyler/AP
German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock made a tough statement in Berlin, stressing that Germany must immediately unlock €3 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. She outlined six key steps that she believes Germany and Europe should take to support Kyiv and strengthen their own security.
The first and most urgent step is to unblock financial aid to Ukraine. Burbock called on all democratic parties in the Bundestag to immediately agree on the allocation of funds that are critically needed to support Ukraine’s defence.
The second step is to adopt a comprehensive package of assistance to Kyiv at the EU summit next Thursday. It should include humanitarian, economic and military support.
The third point is to strengthen strategic cooperation between Germany, France, the UK and Poland. According to Burbock, these countries should act in a coordinated manner to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and provide long-range weapons.
“These three steps will help Ukraine continue its fight against Russian aggression, especially in the face of uncertainty about American support. We must act decisively to ensure a just peace, not capitulation,” Burbank said.
The Minister also stressed the need to form a new government in Germany as soon as possible, which will be able to take responsibility for making critical decisions.
The other three steps outlined by Burbock relate to strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities:
Creating a European Defence Fund to finance security initiatives.
Increasing defence spending to counter Russian aggression and hybrid threats.
Deepening Euro-Atlantic relations, which, according to her, is the key to lasting peace.
“A lasting peace for Ukraine is only possible in cooperation with Washington, not without it or against it,” Burbock said, stressing that Europe no longer has the right to be naive.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck also supported the immediate unblocking of funding, stressing the critical need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence.
It is expected that the issue of aid to Ukraine will be one of the key issues at the EU summit next week. Whether Berlin will be able to make a quick decision will become known in the coming days.
