Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met today in Kyiv with German Foreign Minister Alena Berbok and Dutch Foreign Minister Vopke Hukstra, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrin reported in a Telegram report.
“The meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Analena Berbok and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Vopke Hukstra is essential. The support from your countries is important and valuable for us. Thank you for being by our side today and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.” Zelensky.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that with such support, Ukraine would win.
“I think that with our joint efforts we will be able to win. To win means to return to Ukraine all the rights and freedoms of our citizens in our territory,” he said during the meeting.
Kyiv: “Historic turning point” the change of attitude of Germany
Ukraine welcomed what it called a “historic turning point” as German Foreign Minister Alena Berbok visited Kyiv today in support of Ukraine’s bid for full membership in the European Union and the severance of energy ties with Russia.
Burbock is the highest-ranking German government official to visit Ukraine since the Russian-led invasion began on February 24, and the two countries are trying to improve relations after disagreements over issues such as arms supplies and sanctions. Germany backs an embargo on Russian oil, and Berbock said it intends to reduce Russian energy imports to zero, adding “and that will stay that way forever.”
Following in the footsteps of the United States and Britain, Burbok also announced that the German embassy in the Ukrainian capital would reopen in a symbolic vote of confidence following the ouster of its diplomats earlier.
Burbok, who visited Kyiv with her Dutch counterpart, said the two countries would supply 12 howitzers to Ukraine and that training on their use would begin immediately.
“The fact that Germany supports Ukraine’s peace, territorial integrity and sovereignty is a major turning point and I am grateful to the German government for this position,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
“I would like to thank Germany for changing its stance on a number of issues. We saw the first Russian rocket hit Kyiv on February 24 and it also hit Germany’s traditional policy towards Russia,” he told a joint news conference.
He cited examples of a change in Germany’s stance on arms supplies and support for the oil embargo.
Relations between Kiev and Berlin have been thorny. German Chancellor Olaf Solz was reluctant to visit Ukraine as Kyiv was reluctant to receive German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier, Soltz’s ally in the Social Democratic Party, is unpopular in Kyiv because of a policy previously pursued by Germany that sought close trade and other relations with Putin’s Russia.
Andriy Melnik, Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin, had called Soltz a “offended sausage” and hinted that he was behaving like a nervous child.
Solz is now planning a trip following an invitation to him and Steinmeier by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
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