Baerbock announces historic German decision to strengthen security and aid to Ukraine

This was announced by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock before the start of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on March 17, as reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.

“Tomorrow, in a historic decision, we will integrate our security into the Basic Law by introducing a constitutional amendment that comprehensively covers security, strengthens it, provides greater support for Ukraine and allocates significant additional funds for infrastructure. This is a powerful signal that Germany takes its security, Ukraine's security and security in Europe seriously… Our contribution to peace in Europe, which will be announced in a historic decision tomorrow in the German Bundestag, is something that has never been done on such a scale,” Baerbock noted.

She confirmed that this decision will finally pave the way for the allocation of an additional 3 billion euros to Ukraine in 2025.

“Thus, Germany will provide Ukraine with 7 billion euros, similar to last year,” the minister explained.

“Our goal is a strong and sovereign Ukraine. This requires a position of strength, especially for negotiations with Putin's Russia. It is important not only to strengthen our defense capabilities, but also to quickly take an ambitious decision at the level of EU heads of state and government on our military support,” Baerbock said.

She stressed that investments in the security of countries, investments in European security, investments in the security and peace of Ukraine are also investments in transatlantic security and transatlantic relations.

Read also: Germany may approve €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine next week – Merz

She reported that at the meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Canada, from where Baerbock arrived in Brussels, everyone reaffirmed their commitment to peace in Ukraine and peace in the Era.

“And now the ball is in Putin's court… The door to peace is slightly open, but Putin has not yet clearly indicated whether he wants to do this… That is why it is extremely important for us, Europeans, to act together with the Americans,” the head of the German Foreign Ministry emphasized, noting that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is a common goal and the basis for all negotiations.

“We have made it clear that a ceasefire is different from a peace treaty,” Baerbock said, adding that there was no disagreement among European partners on that position at the meeting in Canada. Peace, she said, cannot be achieved without taking into account the views of Europeans on whose continent the war is taking place.

She emphasized that, including after the G7 ministerial meeting in Canada, a new phase of security is approaching, and Europeans must take security more actively into their own hands.

The Foreign Minister also stressed the need to revise the Maastricht criteria and create more flexibility for common European security and defence.

Read also: G7 Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Unwavering Support for Ukraine

As reported by Ukrinform, the head of the Christian Democratic Union, candidate for the post of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stated that the issue of providing Ukraine with aid in the amount of 3 billion euros will be agreed upon in the coming days.