Providing Ukraine with tanks is response to escalation by Russia, not vice versa - European Commission spokesman

Peter Stano, the European Commission's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, made the statement at a briefing on January 30 in Brussels, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

The spokesman was asked whether the decision to supply tanks to Ukraine had escalated the situation.

"First of all, the decision to supply tanks to Ukraine was motivated by the European Union's determination to help Ukraine defend itself in light of Russia's escalation. This is a response to the escalation by Russia, which has been killing people, civilians, destroying civilian infrastructure, using hunger as a weapon, using energy as a weapon for almost a year since the illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, they (Russians - ed.) are weaponinzing everything they can to break Ukraine . The European Union must help Ukraine defend itself," Stano said.

The European Commission representative noted that Ukraine "is defending its independence, its territory, its people against aggression that aims to destroy the country and the state, as Putin said."

"This (the decision to supply tanks - ed.) is not an escalation, but a response to the escalation of pressure and bloodshed against civilian targets and civilians in Ukraine," he emphasized.

• On January 25, Germany approved the supply of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and also allowed their re-export by other countries.