On Tuesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made an unexpected trip to Kyiv to reinforce Berlin’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russian forces.
Pistorius arrived by rail and is scheduled to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his colleague from Ukraine.
Berlin, which is Kyiv’s second-largest military aid provider behind the US, is attempting to allay fears that its support for Ukraine may be weakening as a result of attention shifting to the Middle East conflict.
The visit comes after an increase in Russian air attacks on Ukraine and as Kyiv braces for an expected rise in strikes on the country’s energy facilities over the coming winter months.
It is Pistorius’s second visit to Kyiv since he became defense minister at the start of this year, and it comes a day after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made an unannounced trip to Ukraine.
As well as political talks, Pistorius will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Kyiv’s Maidan Square and visit a military training center.
After some initial hesitation, Germany drastically ramped up its support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion and delivered a huge array of armaments to Kyiv, ranging from heavy battle tanks to air defense systems and ammunition.
In addition, the battle has prompted the government to revamp the aging military, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz announcing a 100 billion euro ($109 billion) fund to strengthen the armed forces.
The military forces suffered from years of neglect as a result of successive administrations’ low priority for them and their shame over their part in World War II.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Germany has provided Israel with unwavering backing as it battles Palestinian extremists.
But Scholz pledged last month that Germany would still maintain its aid to Kyiv, insisting that “we will support Ukraine as long as necessary”.
