‘Yes’ to Ukraine’s European future

Olaf Solz’s long-awaited trip finally took place under conditions of extreme secrecy and the highest level of security. It was what everyone expected from the German chancellor on February 24, the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For his oligarchy he received strong criticism inside the country but also abroad and of course from Ukraine. It was preceded by a diplomatic misunderstanding about the “undesirable” in Kyiv German President Steinmeier, which was then resolved, daily pressure for the delivery of German heavy weapons and firing on its predecessors for insisting on a pro-Russian policy, the “fruit” of which is supposed to be Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Olaf Solz arrived in Kyiv and not alone, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Johannes. The message they chose to send at the joint press conference after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was clear. “All four of us support the immediate granting of EU candidate status,” said Olaf Solz. The granting of this status is only the beginning of a long journey towards full EU membership, but it has weight.

“Europe has chosen which side to take”

“We are at a turning point in history. The Ukrainian people are defending every day the values ​​of democracy and freedom that are the foundation of the European project. We can not wait. We can not postpone this process,” said Mario Draghi. “We express the fraternal greetings of the peoples of Europe to a free and sovereign people. Europe has chosen which side to side with.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr welcomed the European leaders’ “yes” to Ukraine’s European perspective. “The Ukrainians have already won the right to take this path and gain the status of candidate country,” he said, stressing once again that Russian aggression is aimed at “the whole of Europe.”

What about the weapons that Kyiv brazenly demands?

However, Kiev does not show the same satisfaction with the issue of immediate and practical delivery of heavy weapons from the West to Ukraine, in other words, the systems that countries such as Germany have promised, but are slow to deliver. While President Macron announced the handover of six other French Ceasar-type tanks, the German chancellor opted for a more general stance, reiterating that Germany would continue to support Ukraine militarily for as long as necessary. However, he referred to the training of Ukrainian soldiers in German tanks and promised Ukraine the state-of-the-art Iris-T air defense system as well as the special Cobra radar.

However, even in Zelensky’s statements, the pressure exerted by the Ukrainian government on every occasion for the delivery of heavy weapons here and now was reflected once again, expressing its constant demand: the more weapons the West provides, the sooner this will end. barbaric war. However, according to the public television network ZDF, Ukraine was preparing for the long-awaited visit with a specific list of requests for Western weapons: 1000 self-propelled grenades (Haubitze), 500 multi-launcher systems and 500 armored tanks. Military analysts, however, say the demands are more political than military, as even the United States is unable to meet them.

“Autopsy” in Irpin for war crimes

In the morning, the four leaders visited Irpin, near Kyiv, watching closely the signs of mass destruction by the Russian army. Chancellor Soltz spoke of “inconceivable brutality”, with French President Macron once again condemning the war crimes that appear to have been committed in Ukraine. Romanian President Johannes also spoke of an “unthinkable human tragedy”, while Mario Draghi promised Italian assistance for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Finally, President Zelensky accepted the German proposal to take part in the G7 summit in Bavaria at the end of July, without specifying whether he would be present in person or by video conference.

Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle