German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Germany and its EU partners would contribute to strengthening Ukraine's air defence before the winter period.
She said this before an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers on 29 August in Brussels, Ukrinform reports.
"Putin is waging a 'cold war' to make people desperate and cold. This is exactly what we must prevent... Germany will provide Ukraine with four more Iris-T systems and additional Gepard systems by the end of the year, because protecting the sky remains the most important thing for protecting human lives," Baerbock said.
According to her, the partners are preparing a "protective umbrella" for Ukraine this winter to reduce the scale of damage to the energy structure and other facilities, which may be greater than in previous years. She pointed out that the strikes had intensified just before the cold weather.
Baerbock stated that despite all efforts to achieve peace, Putin continues to wage war. The diplomat added that no one wants peace as much as Ukraine, and no one is working harder to achieve it than Europeans with partners around the world, especially in the G7.
The German Foreign Minister reminded that Putin is also waging a hybrid war against the West. She urged not to be naive and to look closely at who is entering the EU from Russia.