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Germany-Ukraine reconciliation: Presidents Steinmeier-Zelensky spoke, soon in Kyiv or Berbok

LAST UPDATE: 22.50

The presidents of Germany and Ukraine, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively, had a “conversation in a good atmosphere” and, according to German Chancellor Olaf Soltz, the country’s foreign minister, Alena Berbock, is expected to visit soon.

The two countries had a diplomatic incident weeks ago, as Ukrainian authorities refused to allow the German head of state to visit Kyiv, citing the pro-Russian policy pursued by Mr Steinmeier as former Chancellor Gerhard and Chancellor Gerhard. Foreign Minister Angela Merkel.

Kiev’s refusal to accept the German president had led Chancellor Soltz to say he would not visit the Ukrainian capital without a visit by Steinmeier.

During a joint press conference following his meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Solz said that “the federal president and the Ukrainian president have spoken very carefully, this is good (…) Tensions have been cleared by the past”.

“One result of the conversation was that the foreign minister would soon be in Ukraine,” the chancellor said, but left unanswered the question of whether and when he intends to visit Kyiv. Mr. Steinmeier wants to accept the invitation sent today by Volodymyr Zelensky and a suitable date is being sought, while the Speaker of the Federal Parliament Berbel Bass also plans to go to Kyiv.

Last month, the Ukrainian side called the German president undesirable because of his earlier stance on Russia and barred him from a scheduled joint visit by the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states, sparking tensions in bilateral relations.

Referring to the development of the war in Ukraine, Olaf Solz said, among other things, that Vladimir Putin “intended to conquer the whole of Ukraine in a short time” and, therefore, it is a great achievement of the Ukrainian army to repel the Russian invasion. However, given the incredible use of military equipment by Russia, there is little hope that the war will end soon, said Olaf Soltz, who spoke of serious economic consequences. Germany, he said, is making every effort to build the infrastructure needed to import energy to its north coast in order to secure alternative suppliers of oil and gas. However, Berlin is willing to work closely with countries that do not have access to the sea, he added. One of these countries will be the Czech Republic, said the Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who, as he said, has received the relevant assurance from the German Chancellor. The Czech Republic is 95% dependent on Russian gas, he said, noting that Prague had supported the toughest sanctions against Russia from the beginning, but would need help during the transition period. According to Mr. Solz, the Czech Republic could participate in the LNG liquefied natural gas terminal to be built in Wilhelmshaven. In addition, the two leaders confirmed that Germany and the Czech Republic will cooperate in the exchange of heavy weapons for Ukraine. The Czech Republic will deliver its own Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, and Germany will replace them with modern Western systems. “This exchange is very beneficial for both Ukraine and the Czech Republic,” he said. According to information from the German media, these are tanks.

Source: Capital

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