German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will continue to support Ukraine because the country is “of great geopolitical significance” to the interests of both blocs.
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| European Council President Charles Michel and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at an event in Kiev, January 3. (Source: Reuters) |
Speaking at the Green Party Conference in Karlsruhe on November 25, Ms. Baerbock affirmed that the EU must admit Ukraine, because the country can no longer afford any gray zones in Europe.
“Ukraine’s accession to the EU is in our own geopolitical interests, which is why we will not only continue to support Ukraine, but also strengthen this support within the framework of the EU and NATO,” she stressed, adding that “Europe is a geostrategically important and decisive region.”
“It is clear today that Ukraine will strengthen the EU in the near future,” Foreign Minister Baerbock said.
Reiterating Berlin’s stance on seeking Ukraine’s accession to the EU, Ms Baerbock said the move would also apply to Moldova, Georgia and possibly the Western Balkans, so as not to leave any “grey areas” beyond Brussels’ control.
However, she admitted earlier in November that the bloc itself would have to undergo “tedious” reforms to function effectively with so many members.
Berlin has recently pledged to “expand and strengthen” its support for Ukraine in the coming years, but has not provided details on its plans. However, it has been revealed that Germany is planning to provide additional air defense systems and power generators as part of a so-called “winter umbrella” plan.
According to Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy, after spending about $18.2 billion on military aid to Kiev, Germany is still far behind the United States - a country that spent about $45 billion.
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel is optimistic that EU member states' decisions regarding Ukraine will be considered at the highest level in Brussels in the coming weeks, while affirming his determination to impose new sanctions on Russia.
"We support Ukraine and will support Ukraine to the extent necessary. On the EU side, we have transferred 83 billion euros in support to Ukraine in various areas such as financial, military and we are ready to do more. We will take additional decisions in the near future and I am optimistic, together with the member states, about this," Mr. Michel said at a press conference after the EU-Canada summit held in the Canadian city of Saint John.
He noted that the upcoming meeting of EU leaders will also discuss further sanctions against Russia. “This will also be an opportunity to discuss the importance of preventing sanctions circumvention on the one hand, and on the other hand, identifying areas that may require additional sanctions steps in the future, in coordination with our like-minded partners,” Charles Michel said.
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