European Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, of the Greens, has called for a decisive stance from Europe following the historical crisis in the White House. “A new era of uncertainty has begun” Baerbock said in Berlin on Saturday.
In the face of potential changes in US support for Ukraine, Europe must act in unison. “We stand firmly in support of the sovereign and free Ukraine” Baerbock said. There should be no reversal of the perpetrator-victim dynamic. “The enemy sits alone in the Kremlin.”
She appealed to the German Bundestag to immediately release aid funds of three billion euros for Ukraine, which have been blocked. At the European Council meeting in the coming week, decisions must be made on a comprehensive financial package and enhanced defense support for Ukraine. Europe must invest massively in its own defense capabilities.
Furthermore, Germany should consider reforming the debt brake to ensure long-term security and defense spending. Baerbock warned against underestimating the threat from Russia. “Otherwise, Putin’s troops will soon be in the Baltics or directly at the doorstep of our neighbor Poland” she said. The current situation requires quick and decisive action.