German finance minister calls for support in boosting Ukraine's defence

"It cannot be that Germany does more to help Ukraine so that others do less," he said at an event organised by the German Eastern Business Association, calling instead for a fair burden-sharing of costs at the EU level. The minister viewed the country as ready for EU membership and in line with EU values, but said there were still reforms that needed to be made for private sector investment to take off.

Germany's finance minister said on Tuesday that the country can't keep up Ukraine's defence capabilities on its own in the long term and that others will need to increase bilateral contributions. "It cannot be that Germany does more to help Ukraine so that others do less," he said at an event organised by the German Eastern Business Association, calling instead for a fair burden-sharing of costs at the EU level.

The minister viewed the country as ready for EU membership and in line with EU values, but said there were still reforms that needed to be made for private sector investment to take off. "There are many conditions that need to be met for private sector initiatives to succeed there," Lindner said.