Berlin [Germany], February 25: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for Germany and Europe to make a bigger effort when it comes to defence, in a statement to mark two years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Russia is not only attacking Ukraine, it is also destroying peace in Europe," Scholz said.
Ukraine would be supported in its self-defence "for as long as necessary," he said.
"And we, Germany and Europe, are doing more - and must do even more - so that we can defend ourselves effectively." NATO, he argued, was the best guarantee of defence "on both sides of the Atlantic." Scholz pointed to increased investment in the German army as a sign that it was fulfilling its commitments to NATO.
This year, Germany is investing 2 percent of its total economic output into the military for the first time in decades, Scholz said, alluding to a long-held NATO target.
"And this will remain the case in the coming years and decades," he promised.
"Constant" production of ammunition - currently a topic of much debate in Europe - was a key element of defence, he said, and European countries should pool their orders.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock travelled to Odessa together with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday in a show of support as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered into its third year.
Source: Qatar Tribune