UPDATE - Europe will purchase weapons from world market for Ukraine: Germany’s Scholz

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS FROM MACRON, ADDS BACKGROUNDl; REVISES DECK

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Friday that European states will purchase weapons from world markets to support Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin, Scholz said Europeans are united and determined to continue their support for Ukraine.

“We have agreed today on a few key points, and from now on we will procure more weapons for Ukraine, purchasing them from the world market, that is a good improvement,” Scholz told reporters.

“Secondly, the production of military equipment will be expanded, also through cooperation with partners inside Ukraine. And thirdly, as part of the Rammstein format, we are establishing a new capabilities coalition for long-range rocket artillery,” he said.

- Europe's security 'at stake in Ukraine'

French President Macron stressed that "Europe's security and future are also at stake in Ukraine," adding that France, Germany, and Poland will remain united in their support for Ukraine.

Highlighting the importance of the concrete initiatives they put forward today, Macron said Europeans together would work to buy ammunition from third countries to deliver to Ukraine, in case of need.

He said the new capabilities the coalition has for providing long-range rockets to Ukraine will be further discussed in detail by the countries’ defense ministers in the coming days, in order to create an operational framework for its implementation.

Macron also said the three leaders discussed the situation in Moldova, and reaffirmed their support for the Moldovan government, amid tensions between it and pro-Russian separatists.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that today’s meeting was important, as it clearly showed that “the ugly rumours of disagreements among European capitals” is inaccurate.

“We said straight away that Ukraine must be supported immediately and as intensively as possible. We are ready to put our money and we want to help wherever it is needed, right now and right here, so that the situation in Ukraine gets better and not worse in the coming weeks and months,” he said.

The leaders of Germany, France and Poland met in Berlin amid growing concerns in Europe about the sustainability of US military support for Ukraine, due to the election year, and the likelihood of a second term for former President Donald Trump.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to European allies for more support and warned that the Ukrainian army faces critical shortages of ammunition, especially artillery shells.

*Nur Asena Erturk contributed to this report from Ankara