EU approves $1.1B for Ukraine's weapon purchase
A top German diplomat assures that the EU will increase support from the European side by an additional billion so that Ukraine can purchase weapons itself.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Monday that the European Union agreed Sunday to provide some $1.1 billion to Ukraine for the purchasing of additional lethal military weapons.
Ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, she added that “we see that additional support is needed, so we will make a political decision today that we will increase support from the European side by an additional billion so that Ukraine can purchase weapons itself."
Germany, for its part, will work to ensure that Ukraine buys weapons from German manufacturers as soon as possible.
As Germany was already facing a winter gas crisis, fears rise that the risks will get even bigger without Russian gas supplies.
Just weeks ago, the President of the European Council Charles Michel affirmed that the sanctions imposed on Russia will affect Europe as well, stressing the need to prepare for this situation.
Many of the consequences, such as higher gas, electricity, and food prices, have started hitting the European and world market.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck warned, on Saturday, that Germany cannot yet halt Russian gas supplies, or it will face shortages that will prevent the country from supporting its industry and heating homes next winter.
It is worth mentioning that Germany has lately declared its intention to diversify its energy supply sources in order to reduce its energy dependence on Russia in the midst of the military operation in Ukraine.