Baerbock in Kyiv: 200 million euros in additional winter aid

Before the third winter of war, the German Foreign Minister is sending a sign of solidarity on her eighth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. Also when it comes to the EU and NATO.

Germany is guaranteeing Ukraine additional winter aid of 200 million euros before the third winter of war and in view of ongoing Russian attacks on the infrastructure. The money will be used to increase the Federal Foreign Office’s humanitarian emergency aid so that houses close to the front without an energy supply can also receive fuel and Ukrainians can be “equipped with the bare essentials such as blankets or warm winter coats against the icy temperatures,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) at a meeting Meeting with her Ukrainian colleague Andrij Sybiha in Kiev.

Baerbock had previously arrived in Ukraine for her eighth solidarity visit since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022.

Baerbock also met President Volodymyr Selenskyj there. “I thanked her for all of Germany’s support for Ukraine,” Zelensky said in his evening video message. The general situation in Europe and the region was discussed in the discussions. “How we can put pressure on Russia to bring peace closer,” explained the head of state.

The Foreign Minister also justified her trip at the meeting with Zelensky with the aim of “bringing back media reporting about Ukraine in Germany and Europe.” That’s why this visit is “more important than some of the previous visits.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is now also seeking weapons help from North Korea and is taking particularly tough action in eastern Ukraine, said Baerbock. He wants to hit lifelines all over the country, bomb power plants and destroy power lines. Almost two thirds of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have now been destroyed and electricity and heat are missing.

The additional aid now announced is not support for the energy sector. Rather, it is about winter emergency aid measures for the population such as solid fuel for houses near the front, insulation, winter clothing, blankets and cash aid. With the additional 200 million euros, German funding from humanitarian aid funds for humanitarian mine clearance is now a total of 390 million euros this year.

Baerbock was informed by Ukrainian soldiers about the use of the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks supplied by Germany. The Ukrainian Gepard crew reported that they shot down three Russian drones just on Friday. She also asked Baerbock for more support with materials and ammunition. Germany has so far delivered 55 Gepard tanks with spare parts and 176,000 pieces of anti-aircraft tank ammunition from Bundeswehr and industrial stocks to Ukraine to defend against Russian air attacks.

The Gepard tanks are considered particularly effective in defending against drone attacks. Baerbock was then shown an energy plant in the greater Kiev area that had been hit several times by Russian missiles and produces electricity.

Baerbock emphasized that Ukraine’s future is “crystal clear” in the European Union and NATO. Putin wants to prevent Ukraine from making this free decision, but each country makes the decision itself. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently clearly rejected Ukraine’s wish for a quick invitation to join NATO. “I believe that it is very important to realize that a country that is at war cannot become a NATO member,” he said on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”.

Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine would not back away from joining NATO. “The invitation to Ukraine must be extended now without hesitation,” he said. This is an important political step “to take away Putin’s illusions and motivate him to end the aggression.” With regard to the presidential election in the USA, the Ukrainian foreign minister said: “We are sure of the support of both parties and the people of the USA.”

As of August 31, the US has provided 56.8 billion euros in military aid, according to Sybiha. At the same time, total aid from European states would have been 54.61 billion euros. “Therefore, the help of our European partners is also extremely important for Ukraine, and we are grateful for it.”