The European Union will increase financial aid and delivery of weapons to Ukraine, CNN reported Monday, citing a statement from German Finance Minister Annalena Baerbock.
“We will increase financial means for the purchase of military goods to 1 billion euros, in order to make clear, we stand with full solidarity on Ukraine’s side, we stand for the protection of the civil population in Ukraine,” Baerbock told journalists ahead of a special Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
Germany will also ensure that weapons sales from German producers will be carried out as quickly as possible. “Ukraine needs further weapons,” she said, without providing any further details due to security concerns. “This is about life and death, we are in the middle of a war and therefore absolute caution is needed about stating which weapons are to be delivered and where,” Baerbock added, CNN reported.
Baerbock also expressed concern over Russia’s “continuing to escalate its rhetoric with regard to nuclear weapons as well as NATO territory.”
Additionally, the official said that the EU is working on “closing sanction loopholes” in order to penalize “those who benefit from this war, including their family members.”