Germany’s Baerbock demands ‘tough security guarantees’ for Ukraine

Germany and its European partners are determined to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any potential peace deal, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday.

Ahead of a meeting in Berlin with several of her European counterparts and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, Baerbock said: “Here in this circle, we are unanimous: Ukraine needs tough security guarantees.

“This includes long-term military and financial support for Ukraine,”
Baerbock added.

Guarantees for Kiev would send a “clear message,” the foreign minister said. “We stand up for the security and future of our European continent.”

Kallas said that more needed to be done to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

“We have to do more to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield,” she stated. “The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind negotiations.

“And of course, it’s up to Ukraine to say when they are ready to sit around any negotiation table,” Kallas added.

Baerbock and Kallas did not answer questions about the participation of German or European soldiers in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Earlier in December, Baerbock refused to rule out the prospect, drawing criticism in Germany.

Also expected on the agenda in Berlin was the situation in Syria, with Baerbock warning that the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime was merely the first step on a long journey towards normalization.

Germany and its European partners are determined to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any potential peace deal, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday.

Ahead of a meeting in Berlin with several of her European counterparts and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, Baerbock said: “Here in this circle, we are unanimous: Ukraine needs tough security guarantees.

“This includes long-term military and financial support for Ukraine,”
Baerbock added.

Guarantees for Kiev would send a “clear message,” the foreign minister said. “We stand up for the security and future of our European continent.”

Kallas said that more needed to be done to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

“We have to do more to strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield,” she stated. “The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind negotiations.

“And of course, it’s up to Ukraine to say when they are ready to sit around any negotiation table,” Kallas added.

Baerbock and Kallas did not answer questions about the participation of German or European soldiers in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Earlier in December, Baerbock refused to rule out the prospect, drawing criticism in Germany.

Also expected on the agenda in Berlin was the situation in Syria, with Baerbock warning that the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime was merely the first step on a long journey towards normalization.