Germany taking ‘serious’ steps for security of Ukraine, Europe: Foreign minister

BERLIN

Germany will assume greater responsibility for both its own security and that of Europe, the country's foreign minister announced on Monday.

In Brussels, Annalena Baerbock told reporters that the German parliament will make a “historic decision” Tuesday to reform the constitution, allowing additional borrowing and increased defense spending.

“This sends a strong signal that Germany is serious about its own security, Ukraine's security, and European security,” she said, adding that reforming the constitutional “debt brake” will enable stronger military support for Ukraine.

“We will provide an additional €3 billion ($3.3 billion) for Ukraine in 2025. This will bring Germany's total military support for Ukraine this year to €7 billion ($7.6 billion), matching our commitment from last year,” Baerbock said.

Last week, Germany's Christian Democrats, along with their potential coalition partner, the Social Democrats, reached an agreement with the Greens party on constitutional reform. The changes would permit borrowing hundreds of billions of euros for infrastructure investments, and creating a special fund for defense procurement.

Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, is expected to vote on the changes on Tuesday. Following approval, the legislation will require a two-thirds majority vote in the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament.