Stopping support for Ukraine's self-defence will lead to more war crimes – German Foreign Minister

The end of allied support for Ukraine's self-defence will lead to an increase in the number of war crimes, not a decrease.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock believes that as long as Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does not want to sit down at the negotiating table, the allies' cessation of support for Ukraine’s self-defence will mean "leaving Ukraine’s children’s hospitals defenceless".

"It would mean more war crimes, not less. Possibly, in other countries too," she said during a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The German foreign minister recalled that after inviting Russia to the international Peace Summit, "Putin sent his response by bombing a children's hospital".

She also noted that Russia has repeatedly "been toying with the inviolability of the borders of the Baltic States and Poland".

"This is why today I am also asking your support in calling out on Putin to cease his attacks and to come to the negotiation table. Not only for our European security, but I think also in your own interests. If a permanent member of the [UN] Security Council is allowed to conquer and destroy its smaller neighbour, the very essence of this [UN] Charter is under attack," she added.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said yesterday that Germany is ready to become the main pillar of deterring Russian aggression in Europe and plans to deploy a full-fledged brigade in Lithuania by 2027.

The Bundestag Budget Committee has also recently approved an aid package totalling €70 million for Ukraine's heating and electricity sector.

On 19 September, Germany handed over a new military aid package to Ukraine, which included, among other things, 22 Leopard 1 A5 tanks and more than 60,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition.