Pistorius: War in Ukraine has long been international, Russian threats also directed against us

(Patria) - NATO wants to boost arms production in Ukraine due to further escalation of the war in the country, it was said yesterday in Berlin after a meeting of defence ministers from Germany, Great Britain, France, Poland and Italy.

- Our goal is for Ukraine to act from a position of strength - said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius after the meeting with his counterparts from four countries.

Germany's Pistorius, Sébastien Lecornu of France, John Healey of Great Britain, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz of Poland and Guido Crosetto of Italy met ahead of the return of NATO critic Donald Trump to the office of US President.

Trump, whose inauguration is scheduled for 20 January, has demanded that Europe invest significantly more money in its own security and is expected to reduce military aid to Ukraine.

The meeting in Berlin was joined for a time via video link by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

Pistorius explained that boosting arms production in Ukraine would be financed in part by interest on frozen Russian finances abroad.

- Among other things, we are planning the procurement and development of drones that would be guided by artificial intelligence - Pistorius said.

The German minister also added that due to the participation of North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine, the conflict has "long been international".

He also pointed to the recent use of medium-range missiles to strike targets in Ukraine, but which could also be used to target targets in Europe.

- Russian threats are also directed against us - Pistorius emphasised, adding that a meeting of defence ministers in this format will be held again in early 2025 in Poland.