A week before the UN General Assembly in New York, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to send a sign of solidarity to Kiev. She promises further support on her fourth visit to the country since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in February 2022 – but also has words of warning.
Because the airspace above Ukraine is still closed, Baerbock took a special train from Poland to the capital Kiev that night, as is customary for visits by high-ranking politicians. The minister was picked up on the platform and greeted by German Ambassador Martin Jäger.
Ukraine defends “the freedom of all of us”
Upon her arrival, Baerbock promised Ukraine further support on its path to the European Union, but also urged further reform efforts, for example in the fight against corruption. Ukraine also defends “the freedom of all of us. “Just as Ukraine stands before us, it can also rely on us” – for example, that Germany will provide Ukraine with decisive support on its path to the European Union.
Ukraine has had EU candidate status since June 2022. At the time, the European Commission defined seven reform priorities, some of which it believes have been partially fulfilled, such as the reform of the justice system and media legislation. But “there is still a way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarchic law and the fight against corruption.”
Russia robs children of their future
Germany will not abandon “supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression: economic, military, humanitarian.” Russia not only kills with its bombs, but also robs many thousands of Ukrainian children of their future. They would be abducted from children’s institutions, orphanages and schools “to be deported to Russian re-education camps or given up for adoption in Russia.” Reports of extreme brainwashing by Russian authorities to destroy bridges between children and their families and homelands are heartbreaking.
Germany supports organizations and authorities “that give traumatized children a safe home again.” These crimes must be addressed. “The very first step for peace is for Putin to let these children go back home,” she demanded. The topic should also play an important role in the week of the UN General Assembly.
Fourth visit to the war zone
The German foreign minister was the first German cabinet member since the start of the war to travel to eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border, in January and visit long-disputed Kharkiv. Before that, she was in Kiev twice after the outbreak of war in February 2022 – in mid-May 2022 as the first member of the federal cabinet and in mid-September last year.
Source: Krone
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