Europe should be ready to boost aid to Ukraine – Bundestag member
A possible decrease in U.S. aid to Ukraine is bad news but Europe should be ready to increase its share.
The chair of the Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs, Michael Roth, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.
"We should not look at Washington like a rabbit at a python, instead we should now ask ourselves: what can we in Europe do to compensate for a possible reduction in U.S. support for Ukraine," the politician said.
He acknowledged that Europe may not be able to provide enough weapons on its own in the short term. But this is a wealthy continent that can and should purchase the required weapons from other countries, including from the USA.
Roth believes that it would be inappropriate to succumb to pessimism at this time against the background of the latest developments in Congress and the pre-election situation in the United States.
Instead, the German politician finds it necessary to continue the fight, with strong arguments and determination for Europe to do more for Ukraine regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
According to him, Germany has sent an important signal by announcing a virtual doubling of military support to Ukraine in 2024 and expects its European partners, especially large powers like France, Spain, and Italy, to follow suit.
"Helping Ukraine is not only a matter of European solidarity or even Christian mercy. If we do not stop Russian imperialism now, there will never be peace. Then there will be a risk of further military conflicts in Eastern Europe, which spill far beyond the borders of Ukraine," the head of the parliamentary committee emphasized.
As reported, since September 2023, GOP representatives in the U.S. House have not been able to agree with the Democrats on continuing Ukraine funding.