"Rumors about the death of the Weimar Triangle are greatly exaggerated", said on Friday evening Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who earlier that day met in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. The leaders announced a list of agreements to boost support for Ukraine. These included a pledge to procure vitally needed ammunition on world markets.
Photo of Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland (R), Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany (M), and Emmanuel Macron, President of France (L), taken at a press conference in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin, March 15, 2024. Chancellery in Berlin on March 15, 2024. The three leaders came together for a meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle for urgent consultations on further military backing for Kyiv. Photo by Lorenz Huter/PAP/DPA
Leaders from Poland, France, and Germany have concluded that immediate assistance for Ukraine is necessary.
Polish PM Donald Tusk: we spoke with one voice
"Today we spoke with one voice, primarily about the security of our continent and our countries, and all this, of course, in the context of war. We have the same opinion when it comes to assessing who is fully responsible for the escalation of tension, who is fully responsible for the tragic events in Ukraine, who is the aggressor and who deserves our absolute help - announced the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: frozen Russian assets would be used to support Ukraine
"The Weimar Triangle in the heart of Europe is a very important sign of our unity", emphasized the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "We agreed on a number of priorities, including the immediate procurement of even more weapons for Ukraine on the entire world market," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the end of the Friday's summit in Berlin, referring to the launch of "a coalition of Ukraine’s allies for long-range weapons". - From now on, we will buy more weapons for Ukraine on the entire world market. Secondly, we will expand the production of military equipment through cooperation with partners in Ukraine. Thirdly, we will establish a new coalition of capabilities for long-range rocket artillery within the Ramstein format. Fourthly, we will strengthen our support within the European Union - Olaf Scholz listed the decisions made.
After Friday's talks, the German Chancellor also confirmed that frozen Russian assets would be used to support Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron: We will do whatever is necessary to prevent Russia from winning this war
"We will do whatever is necessary and for as long as it is necessary to prevent Russia from winning this war," said President Emmanuel Macron. He also emphasized that Europe will not take steps to escalate the conflict. "It is clear that we support Ukraine. It is also clear that we are not at war with Russia", emphasized the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"We will do whatever is necessary and for as long as it is necessary to prevent Russia from winning this war," said President Emmanuel Macron. - We will never take initiatives leading to escalation - he emphasized. - Today's meeting allowed us to strengthen our unity and show our determination in this important format of the Weimar Triangle, said French President.
The Weimar Triangle, established in 1991 in the German city of Weimar, is a regional alliance of France, Germany, and Poland, created to develop a shared vision for Europe and forge closer ties between the three countries’ societies. Initially, The Triangle served as the key forum for supporting German-Polish reconciliation, inspired by the Franco-German experience. Following Poland's entry into the European Union in 2004, its focus gradually shifted towards facilitating cooperation in preparation for European Union negotiations.
It was also announced on Friday in Berlin that the leaders would meet again in Poland. The summit is scheduled to take place at the beginning of summer.