Germany urges increased arms supplies; France, Italy and Spain “pressurize”; EU lawmakers call for sanctions on Hungarian PM

EU urges members to increase military support for Ukraine, A group of parliamentarians calls for sanctions against the Hungarian Prime Minister, EU guarantees to provide Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells... are the latest news updates on the situation in Ukraine.

Ukraine situation: Germany urges increased arms supplies; France, Italy and Spain 'put pressure'; EU lawmakers call for sanctions on Hungarian Prime Minister. In photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. (Source: Reuters)

Politico reported on January 9 that the European Union (EU) will urge its powerful countries such as France, Italy and Spain to increase military support for Ukraine by 2024 , after Germany criticized the three allies for their limited contributions.

Earlier, on January 8, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on European allies to increase efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine, saying that most EU countries are currently not providing enough weapons to this Eastern European country in its military conflict with Russia.

“While Germany’s contribution is important, it will not be enough to ensure Ukraine’s security in the long term,” Scholz said at a joint press conference with Luxembourg’s new Prime Minister Luc Frieden. “I therefore call on our EU allies to step up their efforts in relation to Ukraine. The planned arms transfers by most EU member states to Ukraine are not enough.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also asked Brussels to carefully consider the plans of other EU member states regarding support for Ukraine.

Although Mr Scholz did not name any countries, Politico said Brussels' plan to draw up a list of aid would put pressure on France, Italy and Spain - countries that contribute very little to Ukraine despite the size of their economies.

The overview of EU member states’ contributions is expected to be completed by the next EU summit at the latest, Mr Scholz said. EU leaders will convene a special summit in Brussels on February 1 to address the bloc’s multi-year budget and discuss a new financial aid package for Ukraine.

* Meanwhile, newly appointed French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne is on his way to Ukraine as Paris seeks to reassure Kiev of its support .

Diplomatic sources said on January 12 that the trip comes at a time when internal political infighting in the United States and the European Union has blocked two major aid packages for Ukraine.

“This is a positive sign that he made Kiev a priority early on when he took up the post of foreign minister,” said one diplomat.

Going ahead with the trip, which was originally planned under his predecessor, was important to underline Paris' commitment at a time when things were getting tougher for Ukraine, another diplomatic source said.

The two sources added that Mr. Sejourne will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk.

* European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said on January 10 that the EU could provide the promised 1 million shells to Ukraine in March or April.

Politico newspaper quoted Mr. Breton as stating that the EU will comply with its obligation to provide artillery shells to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU).

According to him, the possibility of supplying 1 million shells to Kiev by the end of March is "completely feasible". This requires reducing arms exports to non-EU countries and putting pressure on the military-industrial complex of member states.

Commissioner Breton stressed that the EU could catch up with Russia in arms production within two years and that for political unity it was important to have military potential comparable to Moscow.

Previously, President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel said that EU member states would not be able to fulfill their promise to provide Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells in March.

* A group of EU lawmakers on January 12 in a letter called on governments of the bloc's member states to punish Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for undermining democracy by moving a step closer to suspending Budapest's voting in the bloc.

120 of the 705 members of the European Parliament signed the letter after Mr Orban blocked the bloc’s budget review last month, which included granting Ukraine 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in new financial aid until 2027.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tinh-hinh-ukraine-duc-hoi-thuc-tang-cuong-cung-cap-vu-khi-phap-italy-va-tay-ban-nha-ap-luc-nghi-sy-eu-keu-goi-trung-phat-thu-tuong-hungary-257229.html