The Ukrainian government is increasingly annoyed by Germany’s refusal to supply the country with Taurus cruise missiles. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock felt this during her visit to Kiev, where she promised further aid.
“You will do it anyway,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint press conference with German chief diplomat Baerbock in Kiev on Monday.
“I don’t understand why we are wasting time protecting the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians,” Kuleba added.
Baerbock himself was monosyllabic and said that all questions had to be clarified first. The Foreign Minister arrived in Ukraine this morning for her fourth visit since Russia’s war of aggression began on February 24, 2022.
Scholz fears further escalation
In Kiev, Baerbock again assured the country of Germany’s support “as long as you need us.” The Ukrainian government has long been demanding the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far been cautious, pointing out that Ukraine could also attack targets in Russia, leading to further escalation. However, Baerbock has already indicated that she does not consider this argument to be decisive.
Baerbock: Putin will make Ukraine “aushungern”.
At the joint press conference with Kuleba, Baerbock expressed fears that Russia would continue to bomb energy infrastructure more intensively in the coming fall and winter. “Russia’s treacherous goal is once again to starve the people of Ukraine and freeze them to death in winter.”
The federal government will therefore increase its emergency humanitarian aid this year by another 20 million euros to 380 million euros. Baerbock once again emphasized that Germany, with a total of 22 billion euros in aid to date, is Ukraine’s largest donor country after the US. Baerbock announced a new reconstruction conference for Ukraine in 2023, which will take place in Berlin.
At the same time, the minister discussed the fate of the children kidnapped by Russia. She said she had just returned from a visit to an institution that housed Ukrainian children who had returned from Russia. “And their simple message in childish terms was: help us so that Putin doesn’t win this war.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin will stop at nothing, “he has no moral compass.” Putin breaks the rules of human interaction every day. “Look at these kids,” Baerbock called out. Their return is “the first step towards peace”.
Baerbock gives hope for accession negotiations to the EU
Regarding the European Union, Baerbock emphasized that “we see the enlargement of the EU as a necessary geopolitical consequence of the Russian war.” She pointed out that Ukraine already has the status of a candidate country for EU accession. “We are now preparing the decision on whether or not to start EU accession negotiations,” she announced. When it comes to judicial reforms and media legislation, the balance of reforms in Ukraine is already impressive.
“There is still a way to go when it comes to the implementation of the anti-oligarchic law and the fight against corruption,” Baerbock emphasized. “And we as the EU must now work quickly to ensure we are well positioned for more seats at the table.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
