Kyiv. In the midst of the Russian offensive, the Minister of Foreign Affairs travels to Ukraine. It should be a sign of solidarity. But she also has a message for internal budget negotiations.
Germany and Ukraine have urgently demanded more support for Ukraine’s air defense from their international partners, in light of the current Russian offensive.
“Any hesitation and hesitation in supporting Ukraine costs the lives of innocent people. And any hesitation to support Ukraine also endangers our own security,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) during a joint appearance with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in the capital Kiev. Kuleba warned: “If we don’t stop Russia here and now, its missiles will continue to fly at some point.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal is “the systematic destruction of the Ukrainian energy system because it is our lifeline in our societies,” Baerbock said after visiting a large coal-fired power plant near Kiev. According to Ukrainian information, the thermal power plant was completely destroyed in a Russian missile attack in April. Two years after the start of the war of aggression, it must be clear to everyone: “The Russian president knows no limits, he knows no compass of humanity.”
Baerbock was greeted upon arrival in Kiev by German ambassador Martin Jäger and a representative of the Ukrainian Protocol.
© Jörg Blank/dpa
Nearly a billion euros has been raised internationally to provide additional support for Ukrainian air defense, Baerbock said. “But it is completely clear: more is needed.” That’s why she says not only with a view to partners, but also “our own budget negotiations: let’s all look at these destroyed infrastructure power plants that Baerbock is struggling with finances”. Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in negotiations for the 2025 federal budget to save billions in his budget.
Baerbock and Kuleba are promoting the peace summit in Switzerland
In view of the peace summit organized by Switzerland in June, Baerbock said that the federal government is intensely promoting that the countries of the world come together at the meeting “to take steps together on the path to peace”. She could confirm again that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would attend the summit “personally in order to motivate other people around the world to also participate in this conference”. Kuleba warned that Russia was making great efforts to sabotage the summit.
Zelenskyj awards Baerbock the Order of Jaroslav
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj thanked Baerbock for his military and financial support. Zelensky presented her with the third degree of the Order of Yaroslav the Wise. The Order of Merit is named after Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise, who ruled the medieval empire of Kievan Rus from 1019 to 1054.
Baerbock finds out about the destruction of coal plants
During a visit to a coal-fired power station near Kiev that was destroyed by Russian missiles, the minister was briefed on the strain on power supplies. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said during the visit that Russia fired eleven missiles at the time. Of these, only six were shot down by Ukrainian air defense because there were no more missiles available.
Visit to Kharkiv canceled for security reasons
Ukraine has been on the defensive for months due to a lack of weapons, ammunition and soldiers. The megacity of Kharkiv, in the northeast of the country, is being bombed at point-blank range by Russia, across the border. Baerbock had to cancel a visit to Kharkiv planned for Tuesday for security reasons due to Russian attacks. She visited the city, which was heavily attacked by Russian troops at the start of the war, in January 2023.
Soldiers want more mobile air defense systems
In the afternoon, Ukrainian Mobile Air Defense soldiers described their operations against Russian drones and cruise missiles. The unit is parked in an open field, a pickup truck with a machine gun mounted on it. This allows soldiers to shoot down Russian drones that approach relatively slowly. Next to it is a small military all-terrain vehicle with a permanently installed launcher for Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Supposedly, this can also be used to knock cruise missiles out of the sky.
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On Tuesday night, 29 drones were sent by Russia against Ukraine, it says here – the Ukrainian Air Force reported that 28 of them were shot down. The green woman is asked if she herself would like to stand before the machine gun – Baerbock politely declines. What does the unit want? More defense systems.
Football cone and school for children killed in the war
Later, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs remembered Ukrainian children killed in the war in a chapel that had been converted into a museum. At the time of its opening, in mid-2022, there were already 260 children dead, explains a museum employee to the mother of two girls. “Unfortunately, their number is growing every day. Now we have reached more than 600 dead children”, continues the man. Baerbock remains silent in front of an installation. Cuddly toys and other souvenirs are stored here. She leaves behind a school cone and a soccer ball.
Ukraine’s accession to the EU is a “geopolitical consequence of the war of aggression”
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs once again called Ukraine’s accession to the EU “the necessary geopolitical consequence of Russia’s war of aggression, which violates international law.” The country “has made impressive progress and is on the path to reform despite Russia’s destructiveness.” It is now important not to slow down efforts to reform the judicial system, combat corruption and freedom of the media.
Harsh criticism of Russian nuclear exercises
Baerbock harshly criticized the new exercise of Russian nuclear forces. The fact that Russia is carrying out the exercise near the border with Ukraine is a “sign that they want to remove all obstacles, including, in case of doubt, uncertainty”, the Green politician said in the evening in the “heute Journal ” from ZDF, shortly before. your trip back to Kiev. “The Russian president is simply trying to erode this society, which for two years has wanted nothing more than to live in peace and freedom,” Baerbock added.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240521-99-106853/13 (dpa)