German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healey both expressed their desire to ease tensions with Iran, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz at a Ukraine defense meeting in Berlin on Wednesday. He warned that the war in the Middle East was diverting attention and resources from Ukraine, as well as facilitating Russia’s aggression.
Both countries pledged further military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles from Germany and drones from the UK, as well as projects to be carried out within Ukraine with international funding.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended the meeting.
What did Pistorius say about Iran’s influence on the war in Ukraine?
“The world is paying close attention to events in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East these days,” Pistorius said in English at a news conference at the conclusion of talks on Wednesday. “It is in our fundamental interests to immediately de-escalate tensions and end the blockade of the strait. Unfortunately, these are not in sight right now.”
He said it was more important to “keep our focus” on Ukraine and “not to reduce our support” for Kyiv.
“One thing is certain and clear: Russia benefits from the current developments in the Middle East,” he said. “Rising oil prices are pouring money into Putin’s war coffers, at least for now. Moscow is using this money to finance its terror against the brave people of Ukraine.”
Pistorius said that the “so-called” Russia-Ukraine peace talks that the United States was pursuing were currently suspended, adding, “But the truth is, Russia has never taken them seriously.”
He said the short-lived Orthodox Easter ceasefire – which Ukraine’s Fedorov told his counterparts had been “violated about 2,000 times” and expired just after Easter – demonstrated Russia’s intentions.
What did Pistorius say about German and European aid to Ukraine?
The Social Democrat politician said the Quartet’s joint talks in Berlin showed “our unity”.
He said air defense was a key component of Ukraine’s needs, given Russia’s regular and widespread drone attacks.
“So, air defense is a key component of the aid package that we agreed to just yesterday,” Pistorius told reporters. “This includes hundreds of Patriot guided missiles, which will be delivered continuously over the next four years.”
He said Germany would provide additional launchers for IRIS-T air defense systems and “will also finance additional deep-strike drones, which will be manufactured in Ukraine.”
He said that four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, relations with Ukraine “have deepened… from full-scale military support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression to a reliable strategic partnership based on mutual trust.”
Pistorius said he wanted to emphasize how the partnership is “beneficial for both parties”.
The minister also said he hoped the EU would “put its money where its mouth is” and start lending its two-year interest-free €90 billion loan package “eventually”.
“After the elections in Hungary, I hope that the blockade within the EU will soon be lifted,” he said in reference to Peter Magyar’s recent election victory over Hungary’s longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, who were blocking a billion-euro loan package for the war-ravaged country.
Pistorius said the funds would enable Ukraine to “sustainably” purchase military equipment and “rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by Russia.” He also said he expected EU member states to finance the debt in addition to their existing bilateral commitments, rather than instead of them.
Britain’s Healey praises Ukraine for help with Gulf drone security
Like Pistorius, Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey said that the consequences of the war in Iran and the wider region “are being felt around the world by all our citizens,” and said all eyes were on the Middle East, even as Putin “continues his relentless attacks on Ukraine.”
Healey particularly praised Kiev for the assistance it has provided to Gulf countries in defending against drones, following four years of experience trying to stop Russian kamikaze drones from hitting Iran’s martyrs.
Quoting his Ukrainian counterpart Fedorov, he said that in the last 24 hours alone, Russia has launched 1,000 such drones in Ukraine.
“Mykhailo reported that Russian casualties increased by a third in March to more than 35,000, the highest on record in any single month,” Healy said. “96% of those deaths were caused by drones. Drones have defined this war, they will be decisive for its outcome.”
Because of this, the UK was planning to give Ukraine about 120,000 drones in its latest wave of aid, Healy said.
NATO chief Rutte avoided criticizing the impact of the war in Iran, but praised Ukraine for helping Gulf countries stop “indiscriminate attacks” from Iran.
He praised former Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov, who is relatively new to his current post in Kiev, saying, “Your efforts are making Ukraine’s military even stronger.”
Rutte also welcomed further commitments of support for Kyiv, saying, “It is important that equipment continues to come to Ukraine.”
Edited by: Srinivas Majumdaru