Scholz promised Ukraine more weapons

Europeans intend to buy ammunition for Ukraine with Russian money. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a news conference together with French leader Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin that Russian assets frozen in the EU would be used to buy weapons.

We are using the excess income from Russia's frozen assets in Europe to financially support the purchase of shells for Ukraine," he pointed out.

The Chancellor emphasised that the additional funds would make it possible to speed up the purchases.

We will now buy even more weapons for Ukraine - on the entire world market," Scholz said after the Weimar Triangle meeting.

He also announced the creation of a coalition of allies on long-range artillery for Ukraine and noted that the three countries have agreed to cooperate more intensively in military support for Ukraine.

For his part, Macron pointed out that all the countries of the Weimar Triangle are "more than ever filled with a 'fierce' determination not to let Russia win."

We have one clear and consistent will, and behind it are the actions we have already agreed on, as well as the decisions taken today. We will do everything necessary, and as much as it takes, to prevent Russia from winning this war," the French president said.

The French president added that the countries had also decided to set up a new joint production unit with the Ukrainian defence industry, which would make it possible "to give a faster and more pragmatic response to Russian aggression".