German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadeful has called on Western partners to step up assistance to Ukraine ahead of what he called a "decisive" winter. According to the German Foreign Minister, the key task for the allies now is to prevent the depletion of Ukrainian defenses and ensure the stability of the Ukrainian energy system after massive Russian strikes. These statements were made after his talks in Brussels, where Wadeful met, among others, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaia Kallas.
" This winter is crucial. Ukraine must maintain its defense capabilities ," Wadeful stressed. According to him, within the so-called "coalition of the willing," the allies have already discussed the need to " mobilize all forces so that Ukraine can survive this winter ." According to the German Foreign Minister, Germany has a "special responsibility" here, and Ukraine "can count on" Berlin at any time.
The context of Vadful's statements is directly related to Russia's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on the eve of the heating season. The goal of these attacks is to leave Ukraine without electricity and heat during the cold period. It is the threat of massive blackouts and the Russian Federation's attempts to repeat the tactics of energy terror that make the issues of air defense, repair capacities and backup energy sources so sensitive in the military diplomacy of the EU and NATO. This is no longer just a topic of the front, but a topic of survival of the rear - hospitals, heat supply and critical infrastructure.
Separately, the German Foreign Minister emphasized the political dimension of support: after a meeting with the EU's chief diplomat Kaia Kallas, he stated the need to "increase pressure on Putin."
" We must increase pressure on Putin and defend our European values - to be united and ready to bear responsibility for peace within the framework of a strong European partnership ," Vaddeful wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized that this is not only about defense assistance to Ukraine, but also about the political stability of Europe in the face of open aggression by the Russian Federation.
After speaking with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Wadeful also gave a public signal about the consolidation of the West. According to him, Europe and NATO are “strong when they act as one,” and that is why the allies are increasing their support for Ukraine — both in the military dimension and in energy security ahead of the winter. This is consistent with the position of the current German government: Berlin, despite internal discussions about the volume of weapons, does not hide the fact that it is taking on the role of one of the key donors of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
In a broader political context, Wadeful's statement is also a signal to Moscow. Germany is publicly demonstrating that it is not tired of war: despite the cost of supporting Ukraine, Berlin is ready not only to deliver equipment and protective equipment, but also to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia. The minister's statements about Germany's "special responsibility" reflect the government's policy that there will be no security for the European Union without a strong Ukraine.
In parallel with Germany’s statements, Ukraine’s neighbors are taking steps in the energy sector. Moldova and Romania have agreed to halve the tariff for gas transit to Ukraine for the 2025–2026 heating season to help Kyiv get through the winter with a more stable resource. This decision is important both financially and technically: cheaper transit means less pressure on the Ukrainian GTS and easier access to fuel for heat generation. Such a step directly strengthens the resilience of the rear. This is especially critical against the backdrop of Russian attacks on thermal power plants and substations.
In addition, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently stated that after Donald Trump's change in rhetoric regarding Ukraine, Kyiv's position "became better." London interprets this as a sign that support for Ukraine from key Western capitals is not falling apart, but on the contrary, is becoming more coordinated and tougher towards the Kremlin. In the British interpretation, the current course of the West is already having a "tangible impact" on the Russian economy, which is paying an increasing price for the war. Such rhetoric is designed to simultaneously reassure the allies' domestic audience and show Moscow that "winter will take not Kyiv, but the ruble."
In fact, the German Foreign Minister is doing two things.
First, he is preparing the EU and NATO societies for the fact that support for Ukraine this winter will not only be humanitarian, but also defensive and expensive.
Second, he is publicly taking on the role of a “lobbyist for Ukraine” in intra-European discussions on the eve of the cold weather: from air defense and ammunition to energy resources and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.
The bottom line is simple: Berlin is saying out loud that if Ukraine survives this winter, the Kremlin's strategic goal — to break it with cold and blackouts — will fail.
