Dr. Weber explained that, given the political reality, the high sums were not surprising. A comparison with Russian spending is difficult because Russia operates with shadow budgets and clearly exceeds official figures. Divergent purchasing power parities further complicate meaningful comparisons with Europe.
With regard to the peace negotiations, Dr. Weber emphasized that territorial concessions and viable security guarantees remained the central points of contention. He strongly recommended pushing for a freeze on the front lines in order to prevent further escalation.