According to Foreign Minister Annalena Bock, Kiev might still require new heavy weapons in the next summer.
Conflict between Russia and Ukraine could lead to a conflict “could go on for years”, but Berlin will keep supporting Kiev all the way, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said.
“Unfortunately, we have to assume that Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons from its friends next summer,”Baerbock spoke to Bild tabloid Sunday.
“Ukraine is also defending our freedom, our peace,”Minister said that Berlin would be supporting Kiev “financially and militarily — and for as long as it is necessary, full stop!”
Baerbock’s pledge comes despite her admission earlier this week that Germany’s military is facing an “absolute deficit”Hardware shortages due to arms shipment to Ukraine.
Berlin has supplied anti-aircraft self propelled guns, artillery pieces and shoulder-fired missiles to Ukraine. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was criticised throughout the six-month conflict for not sending more advanced weaponry to Kiev.
Baerbock said on Wednesday that Germany’s Iris-T anti-aircraft missile system will be sent to Ukraine in the coming weeks, and that more deliveries should be expected by the end of the year.
Bild interview: The diplomat committed to “cushion the social imbalances resulting from high energy prices”Germany: A drop in Russian gas supplies to Europe has led to the emergence of sanctions on Moscow.
Baerbock also defended Ukraine’s claim to Crimea, which overwhelmingly voted to reunite with Russia in a referendum in 2014.
“Crimea also belongs to Ukraine. The annexation by 2014 was not recognized around the globe, and it is against international law.The Green Party politician said it.
Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, citing Kiev’s failure to implement the Minsk agreements, designed to give the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk special status within the Ukrainian state. In 2014, the protocols were signed for the first time, through France and Germany. Former Ukrainian president Pyotr Poroshenko has since admitted that Kiev’s main goal was to use the ceasefire to buy time and “create powerful armed forces.”
The Kremlin recognised the Donbass republics in February 2022 as independent states. It demanded Ukraine declare itself neutral and not join any Western military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian offensive wasn’t provoked.
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