Ukraine War: Baerbock demands ceasefire from Putin without a preconditions

The executive Minister Annalena Baerbock demands a ceasefire in Ukraine from the Russian President Vladimir Putin without any prerequisite. That Putin’s strategy is not peace, but further destruction, ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian houses and energy infrastructure, said the Green politician at a meeting with her colleague Andrij Sybiha when she visited Ukraine. “Therefore, it is also clear to us Europeans: there can be no lifting of sanctions without peace.”

In view of the Russian attacks, according to Baerbock, Germany provides another 130 million euros in humanitarian aid and stabilization means. It has been the ninth solidarity trip of the minister since the beginning of the war of aggression in February 2022. Overall, it has already been the eleventh Ukraine visit of Baerbock since she took office in 2021. From Sybiha, she received an order for her services to Ukraine.

Candles for killed Ukrainian soldiers

At the national Ukrainian memorial for fallen soldiers, the minister and Sybiha set memorial candles.

Ukraine has made it clear that it accepted a ceasefire without preconditions, said Baerbock. “The one who doesn’t do this is the Russian president.” Moscow reacted to the US proposal of a 30-day comprehensive fire break with a number of conditions, as well as the proposal of safe civil shipping in the Black Sea. As a first step towards the formation of trust, Baerbock demanded that Russia be returned by Ukrainian children.

Ukraine demands more sanctions against Russia

Sybiha asked to strengthen the sanction pressure on Russia. “Those who are still illusions about Russia I would like to say that there can be no return to the old days, to business as usual with Russia, whether it is north stream or another project,” he emphasized. Moscow is an “existential threat”.

At the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Thursday and Friday, people will also “make it clear to the US side that we are not allowed to get involved in Putin’s tactics”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to consult Brussels, Sybiha too.

Because of the “stuck situation between the United States and Russia, it is absolutely central that we Europeans show that we are standing alongside Ukraine without any ifs and buts and are now supported by them,” said Baerbock. The next visit will be a new foreign minister in Germany in Kyiv. But “German support for Ukraine is continued without restrictions,” she promised.

Baerbock can be shown damage to energy infrastructure

Baerbock showed a substation in the north of Ukraine, which ensures the supply of energy in one of the most densely populated regions in the country. It is one of the main goals of Russian attacks since 2022 with more than a dozen rocket and drone hits. The system is also important for the stabilization of the power grid and for an even work of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants, it was said.

Germany is bilaterally the second largest encoder for the Ukrainian energy sector with a total of over 750 million euros since the beginning of the war. A fire break supported under the US mediation of Russia and Ukraine for mutual attacks against the energy infrastructure only partially. However, heavy Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants and vice versa have recently failed to stop against Russian oil refineries.

Baerbock: Raw material contract must fit Europe

The dispute between US President Donald Trump and Selenskyj about the exploitation of raw materials in Ukraine also played a role in Baerbock’s discussions. Trump has threatened Selenskyj with consequences if he was supposed to refuse to deal with the rare earth in Ukraine. There are rare metals in many daily everyday objects such as smartphones, laptops and televisions.

“We, as Europeans, have also concluded a raw material agreement with Ukraine some time ago, and of course all other contracts that should be concluded in the future must be compatible with European law,” said Baerbock. “After all, that’s our European continent.”

At the end of February, the signing of the agreement on the exploitation of so -called rare earths between the USA and Ukraine had failed after a scandal in the White House. After that, there was a revised draft, which according to media reports should give the United States even greater access to the Ukrainian mineral resources.

Sybiha confirmed that Kyiv had received a new draft for a raw material contract from Washington. Now work is being carried out on a contract text that is acceptable for both sides. “Under no circumstances contradict our European way, our integration into the European Union,” said the minister.