The unexpected arrival of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv on Monday was met with promises of everlasting support for Ukraine and praise for its advancements toward EU membership.
“With enormous courage and determination, Ukraine is also defending the freedom of all of us,” Baerbock said in a statement released by the foreign ministry upon her arrival.
And Ukraine can “count on us” in return, Baerbock added.
“We will not let up in our efforts to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression: economically, militarily, and in the humanitarian” sphere, Baerbock said.
Baerbock had been to Ukraine four times since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
During this visit, Ukrainian officials are likely to bring up the country’s application to join the European Union.
The EU granted Ukraine candidacy status a year ago, and this year, it hopes to start formal negotiations on the steps it must take to strengthen its membership ambition.
Although Baerbock acknowledged that Ukraine had achieved “good progress” in some areas, such as judicial reforms, he added that there was still “some way to go” in terms of combating corruption.
Germany’s “resolute support for Ukraine on its way into the European Union” was reiterated by her.
“And we as the EU must now work quickly to ensure we are properly positioned for more chairs at the table,” she added.
In the statement, Baerbock also voiced dismay at the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “will stop at nothing” to break the Ukrainian people, she said.
“We support the organisations, Ukrainian authorities and NGOs who are working to bring the abducted children back home,” Baerbock said.
“Nothing justifies waging this war on the backs of the most innocent, the children,” she said.
“The very first step towards peace is for Putin to let these children go back home.”
