German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has arrived in Ukraine for political talks. The topics of the trip are reconstruction and cooperation in the energy sector. The purpose of the trip is to send a clear signal to Ukraine, Habeck said upon arrival at the Kiev train station.
A sign “that we believe it will prevail, that it will be rebuilt, that there is an interest in Europe not only to provide support in times of need, but that Ukraine will also be an economically strong partner in the future.”
Habeck did not want to come with “empty luggage”.
Habeck is traveling to the country for the first time since Russian troops arrived on February 24 last year – and for the first time ever as a minister. He only wanted to come if he could take something with him, the minister said on the outward journey in a special train. What is that? “A business delegation that gives Ukraine hope for reconstruction after the war.”
“Concrete investment decisions” have already been made or have yet to be made, explains Habeck. Now the German economy says: “‘We can go again’ – and I wanted to send this signal to my Ukrainian friends.”
The trip had been planned for a long time
His current trip was actually planned for last fall, but then had to be postponed because of the Russian winter offensive in Ukraine, Habeck said. “Now is the time then.”
The German vice-chancellor last chaired Ukraine’s Green Party in May 2021 – a trip he “still has very fond memories of”, he said. During a visit to the then frontline in eastern Ukraine, Habeck, as an opposition politician, spoke out in favor of supplying “weapons of defense” to the country attacked by Russia. At the time, the initiative caused dismay in his own party, and the federal government, still led by the grand coalition, rejected the demand.
Source: Krone
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