Scholz calls for European unity in support of Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged his European partners on Monday to send a "message" of unity to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding support for Ukraine.
This comes as EU member states discuss the continuation of military and financial aid and negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, as reported by AFP, cited by Agerpres.
"Military support for Ukraine truly requires a joint effort," stated Scholz during a press conference alongside Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
"If we convey this message from Europe (...), it is also a message for the Russian president, who evidently hopes that our countries' willingness to do what is necessary and express their support will fade," he added.
"It would be an important message if we told him not to count on it," he emphasised.
The German Chancellor underscores European unity, particularly as EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels to decide whether to continue their military and financial support for Ukraine and initiate accession negotiations with the war-torn country, currently in conflict with Russia.
On these fronts, Hungary's Viktor Orban has threatened to block everything, insisting that the EU must first engage in a "strategic debate" regarding its future relations with Ukraine before any further closeness.
In contrast, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose centre-right VVD party was defeated by Geert Wilders' far-right PVV in the late November general elections, is banking on his country's ongoing support for Ukraine.
Among the measures on Wilders' agenda is halting arms shipments to Ukraine.
"I am convinced that, despite the defeat, we will have a pro-European majority in Parliament, against leaving the European Union, and this will ensure that we can continue to financially support Ukraine and expand the EU towards Ukraine," Rutte affirmed.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
