First Baerbock in Kyiv, now her Ukrainian counterpart in Berlin: German-Ukrainian relations are back on track. However, Ukraine is not entirely satisfied with the German support.
During his visit to Germany, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for the delivery of Western fighter jets and missile defense systems to defend his country against Russia.
He again criticized Germany’s hesitancy in arms deliveries, but also emphasized that German-Ukrainian relations are back on the right track after the tensions and irritations of the past few weeks. He urgently campaigned for an EU accession perspective for his country. “The European Union needs Ukraine just as much as Ukraine needs the European Union.”
For four days in Germany
Kuleba is visiting Germany for four days and, among other things, is taking part in the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting on the Baltic Sea. In Berlin he met the leaders of parties and parliamentary groups as well as government members, including Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens). The visit comes just days after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) visited Kyiv, which had already helped improve relations.
In the weeks before, Ukraine had accused Germany of hesitation in supplying arms and imposing sanctions on Russia. A planned visit by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was canceled at short notice by the Ukrainian side.
In the meantime, however, Germany is on the right track, emphasized Kuleba. “We see a positive dynamic. I would like to thank the governing coalition and the federal government for moving forward.” Now, however, the right decisions must be made, said the Ukrainian foreign minister with regard to arms deliveries.
In a “Welt” interview, he complained that the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks promised by Germany were not even requested by Ukraine. “The decisive factor for the federal government seems to have been to give us something that they don’t need themselves,” he said. Kuleba also criticized the delivery of seven German Panzerhaubitzen 2000 – heavy, modern artillery pieces – as insufficient. «At the same time that this message came, I received the message from a very small EU country that also wanted to give us seven pieces of the same system. The dimensions aren’t right, it doesn’t look good.”
Kuleba calls for fighter jets and missile defense systems
Kuleba called for western-style fighter jets and missile defense systems. “Let’s forget the Soviet systems, that’s over,” he said. However, he described the EU accession prospects for his country as the most important issue for his country. Public opinion is in favor on both sides, he said. “We’re having a moment where we’re making history with our own hands.”
In June, the EU Commission intends to make a recommendation as to whether Ukraine should become a candidate country. After that, the member states will decide – perhaps at the EU summit at the end of June. However, all 27 EU countries must agree. Negotiations on an accession agreement usually take years.
Habeck said that Ukraine has been “on the way to Europe” since the pro-European protests of 2013 and 2014 at the latest. In the past, the EU had repeatedly made offers that had not been fulfilled, criticized the Federal Economics and Climate Protection Minister. “This must not happen again.” Habeck said that “alibi or fake offers” had been made to other countries, which had led to disappointment and real democratic setbacks there. The path to the EU must therefore be designed in such a way that Ukraine can follow it, but also follow it to the end.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil also spoke out in favor of candidate status for Ukraine. “We must now quickly open up the prospects of accession for Ukraine and for other countries as well,” said the SPD leader, who met Kuleba together with parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich.
The SPD’s Russia policy is no longer an issue
The SPD’s Russia policy in recent decades is no longer an issue for Kuleba. “The pre-war history of German-Russian relations and the role of the Social Democrats in that is something that is now history,” he said. The Ukrainian foreign minister pointed out that Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a social democrat, had reversed German arms deliveries and energy policy.
“I know that it is not easy to make such decisions,” said Kuleba. He sees the fact that the Chancellor did this with the support of his party as a sign of strength: “You are strong enough to admit that the previous policy has failed and you need a new policy.” The SPD has been criticized for being too close to Russia in recent decades.
Use frozen Russia money for reconstruction
Kuleba can imagine laying claim to Russian funds frozen abroad to help rebuild his country. “From a legal point of view, this is a complicated issue as well as politically,” Kuleba told the “Welt” on Thursday. In order to be successful, there must be a prepared legal path and the political will to implement it. “There are some countries that have already promised us that they will pass necessary laws to make this possible,” he said.
Germany is not yet one of them. However, he hopes that Germany will participate, because it is the best and most economically sensible way to raise funds for the Ukrainian reconstruction. «Russia destroyed it, let Russia pay for it. It’s a fair solution,” he said.
Source: Stern
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