It is a question of war or peace: The future of our coexistence in Europe is being decided in Ukraine. Therefore, Europe must be an integral part of finding a solution in Ukraine. Specifically in how we effectively stand up to Putin’s imperial aggression – and how we, as Europeans, defend our security interests. To this end, we are keeping up the pressure on Moscow and protecting ourselves collectively against hybrid threats. Because we too have been threatened for a long time, especially in the Baltic Sea region, where Putin’s shadow fleet tankers are used to raise oil funds for Russia’s war chest and repeatedly damage infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

This is why I am travelling to Warsaw today to hold consultations with the Foreign Ministers of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the High Representative of the EU. As partners in the Council of the Baltic Sea States, as well as in the EU and NATO, we stand by one unquestionable principle: no decision regarding the future of Ukraine may be taken without Ukraine. And the security of Europe may not be decided without Europe. This is the benchmark for all efforts we exert to bring an end to the Russian war of aggression, and the reason why Europe must play a central role here.

The outcome of the US mid-term elections further underscores the importance of continuing to support Ukraine with the necessary persistence. This is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and security for Europe. This is why we must stand together and united as a transatlantic alliance of Europeans and Americans with regard to Russia. We therefore continue to work in close coordination with the US Government as well as with the US Congress, where the transatlantic partnership is a unifying element between the parties. I have seen this time and again during my discussions in Washington.

Our support for Ukraine must now – before the fifth winter of the war – reach those areas where it protects lives: providing support for energy and heating supplies, and delivering humanitarian assistance. Germany has committed an additional 200 million euros to support these efforts. Ukraine will overcome this further ordeal through its own resilience and with our support. Russia, conversely, will fail if it continues to seek a brutal escalation against Ukraine.

European security is already being put to the test well beyond the front lines in Ukraine. This is demonstrated by recent unexplained bomb threats against aircraft in Europe, cyberattacks on supermarkets and drone incidents on land and at sea. We take these threats very seriously and are responding to them. For they aim to unsettle us as a society, to undermine trust in our institutions – and to make us lose our sense of proportion and moderation. This too will not succeed, because we stand together in the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the EU and NATO.