While Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on his inaugural visit to the USA, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is traveling to Ukraine for the second time in three weeks. It also deals with sensitive issues.
After Germany’s refusal to deliver arms to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock tried to dispel doubts about Berlin’s solidarity.
“We will do everything to ensure that there is no further escalation,” said the Green politician on Monday in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev after talks with her colleague Dmytro Kuleba. “There is nothing less at stake now than peace in Europe,” she said. “In this extremely dangerous situation, our greatest strength is our unity.”
Kuleba was diplomatic. As is well known, there are different views on the issue of arms deliveries. “Today we have found points of contact and are waiting for the decision of the German government,” he said.
Baerbock had already visited Kiev three weeks ago. She now emphasized: “And if third parties try to drive a wedge between Ukraine and its partners, a wedge between the friendship between Ukraine and Germany, then we will (…) stand together all the more intensely and closely.”
Federal government continues to refuse arms delivery to Ukraine
Shortly before Baerbock’s trip, Ukraine had officially submitted a list of weapon requests to the federal government. In it, Kiev is asking for medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-drone guns, microwave destruction systems, electronic tracking systems, night vision goggles, surveillance cameras and ammunition.
Shortly before leaving for his inaugural visit to US President Joe Biden on Sunday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) reiterated the German government’s no to arms deliveries to Ukraine.
The West fears a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The background is reports that tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have deployed near Ukraine. Moscow denies such plans. It is also considered possible that the Russian side wants to stir up fears in order to persuade NATO to make concessions on demands for new security guarantees.
Kuleba spoke of considerable help from the international partners since December. “The total volume has exceeded the $1.5 billion mark in these weeks and months,” said the diplomat before meeting Baerbock. In addition, over 1,000 tons of weapons and ammunition have already arrived in Ukraine.
There was initially confusion about a meeting between Baerbock and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the Germans had planned, which did not take place. Its spokesman said: “In the schedule of the President of Ukraine there was no meeting with the Foreign Minister of Germany.”
Baerbock visits Frontlinie
At the start of her two-day visit, Baerbock visited the “Holodomor” memorial in Kiev, which commemorates the victims of the great famine of 1932/33 deliberately caused by the political leadership of the then Soviet Union. The Ukrainian word Holodomor means “murder by starvation”. At that time, at least three million people are said to have starved to death in what is now Ukraine.
In the evening Baerbock wanted to visit a military hospital in Kiev that is co-financed by Germany. The funds are intended, among other things, for medical equipment and training aid for young doctors.
Since 2019, a total of 10.3 million euros has gone into equipping the medical forces. In the hospital, a final decision is made as to which of the seriously injured in the sometimes bloody conflict in Ukraine will be transported to Bundeswehr hospitals in Germany with a flying hospital operated by the German Air Force for treatment. Since 2014 there have been a good 150 soldiers.
Baerbock then wanted to travel to the east of the country, where she plans to visit the front line between Ukrainian government troops and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbass conflict zone on Tuesday.
Source: Stern
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