Ukraine needs "winter protective shield" - Baerbock

Assistance to Ukraine is now even more relevant in view of the developments in the Middle East.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of Germany, who spoke ahead of the EU ministerial in Luxembourg on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The Russian president, of course, is happy over what is happening in the Middle East, so we give even more attention to Ukraine than before," Baerbock said.

According to her, especially ahead of winter, Ukraine requires a "winter protective shield". Germany, the top diplomat recalled, provided EUR 1 billion for Ukrainian air defenses, as well as an additional EUR 20 billion to address humanitarian needs, including on cooperation projects in the field of development.

"We hope it will help Ukrainians defend themselves and pass through winter as best as possible," the German foreign minister said.

Speaking of the situation in the Middle East, the minister called it dramatic. The EU stands firmly on the side of Israel and at the same time does everything possible to reduce the suffering of Gaza residents, Baerbock emphasized. She noted that Germany provides through international organizations EUR 50 million in humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, including on water, food, medicines, and more. Baerbock noted that Europeans understand that peace and safety in the region, for Israel and Palestinians, will only be possible when terrorism is tackled, and also that today, we need to look into the future and think how it should look like together with international actors to guarantee peace and security. This was discussed in Cairo and will be discussed today in Luxembourg and the following days in New York.

"For the EU and Germany is clear that the Israelis and Palestinians can live on a long-term basis in peace, safety and without terror only based on the implementation of the principle of two states," Baerbock said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the head of German diplomacy has visited the Middle East twice after the Hamas attack on October 7.

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