German president promises his country will be "Ukraine's strongest supporter in Europe"

Today, with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war against Ukraine raging on in full force, and with the United States putting fierce pressure on its European allies, Germany is in a crucial position,

he said, addressing allies

Frank-Walter Steinmeiergerman President

Up until now, every milestone for Germany, every turning point for the better, has been in some way, one of restraint, of embedding, becoming part of something larger, NATO, for instance, the United Nations, the European Union,

Steinmeier said, referring to Germany's fraught past

Frank-Walter Steinmeiergerman President

We will strive to make Germany, both its military and its infrastructure, the backbone of conventional defense in Europe,

Steinmeier said

We all know that these have come under attack, not just from outside but also from within,

he said

Every time there is a political interest in consolidation, that’s what you bump into,

Barrie said

Europe procures a majority of its defense material outside of Europe, and that’s really something we have to depart from,

said Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defense and Space at the aircraft maker's factory outside Madrid