The fact that the US House of Representatives has finally approved the $60 billion military package for Ukraine, which had been blocked for months, was one of the defining topics at the joint council of EU foreign and defense ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.
Several ministers welcomed the help from the USA. At the same time, this also increases the pressure on the EU to do more.
In Germany, the debate about the delivery of additional weapons began on Sunday. In particular, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) could come under pressure to agree to the delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles, which Kiev has been demanding for a long time.
Air defense reinforcements
For now, Germany has decided to deliver another Patriot system (US air defense system) to Ukraine. Ukraine currently has three “Patriot” air defense units, but says it needs at least seven. Germany has so far sent two “Patriot” systems and has now promised another.
Germany is also supplying additional artillery ammunition and plans to train up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in 2024, said German State Secretary for Defense Siemtje Möller (SPD). Other states have also announced that they will take another look at their own weapons depots.
Neither she nor the chairman of the EU Military Committee, Robert Brieger, wanted to go into detail about the commitments of other states. However, Brieger said that Italy had “considered certain medium-range missiles.” It is important to “prevent and cause failure” of a sweeping Russian offensive in the summer, said the former Austrian chief of general staff. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expecting a Russian offensive in early summer and recently made an urgent request at the EU summit for new weapons, artillery shells, vehicles and drones.
With regard to Austria’s neutrality, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (VP) had already emphasized before the meeting in Luxembourg that Ukraine would continue to receive humanitarian support. But he also emphasized: “We will not deliver any war material.”
The EU ministers also prepared tougher sanctions against Iran in Luxembourg. The punitive measures against the Iranian drone program are to be expanded and deliveries to Iran’s allies are to be included.
