Germany’s foreign minister has vowed that her country would not be intimidated by Russia’s new nuclear deterrent policy, saying the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.
Annalena Baerbock told a news conference in Poland that Berlin will now heed the warnings of partners that border Ukraine.
She was attending a meeting of foreign ministers of Poland, Germany, France and Italy on the 1,000th day since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ms Baerbock said Germany and its partners “will not be intimidated” while “Putin is playing with our fear”.
“He didn’t just start doing this 1,000 days ago. He started back in 2014,” Ms Baerbock said.
“And Germany in particular made the mistake back then, especially politically, of allowing itself to be intimidated by this fear and, above all, not listening to its partners, especially our Eastern European partners, who made it clear at the time: We must not rely on promises from the Kremlin.
“We must invest in our own security and protection.”
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country.
The foreign ministers held talks about stepping up Europe’s military support for Ukraine as well as ties with the US under Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20.
Mr Trump says he expects Europe to make a greater effort for its own defence in the face of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Poland’s foreign minister Radek Sikorski said the meeting “agreed that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, and that includes a more balanced sharing of the burdens among Nato members”. Agency reports
