Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann: "After November 5th, it's European payday"

The chairwoman of the German Bundestag's defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has called on the European Union to provide more financial support to Ukraine.

"After November 5th, it's European payday," Strack-Zimmermann said in an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. "We have to make it clear to Russia that we are not going to let Ukraine down."

Strack-Zimmermann's comments come as the EU is set to discuss a new package of sanctions against Russia on November 5th. The sanctions are expected to include a ban on the import of Russian oil and gas.

Strack-Zimmermann said that the sanctions are necessary to put pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine. "We have to make it clear to Russia that there is a price to pay for its aggression," she said.

The EU has already provided Ukraine with billions of euros in financial support. However, Strack-Zimmermann said that more is needed.

"Ukraine is fighting for our values and for our security," she said. "We have a moral obligation to support them in every way we can."

Strack-Zimmermann's comments were echoed by other German officials.

"We need to show solidarity with Ukraine and provide them with the financial support they need to defend their country," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

The EU is expected to make a decision on the new sanctions package on November 5th. The sanctions are likely to be met with resistance from some EU member states, such as Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy.

However, Strack-Zimmermann said that the EU must stand firm.

"We cannot let Russia blackmail us," she said. "We have to show that we are united and that we are determined to defend our values."