Russia has used massive air strikes to shut down many Ukrainian power plants in Ukraine. In this difficult situation, Habeck comes to visit - and is greeted with an air alarm.
Kyiv – Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck visits Ukraine. Upon his arrival, the Green Party politician said the visit came at a time when Ukraine needed all support in its fight for freedom. “And it is a fight for freedom.” He added: “Yes, Ukraine is fighting for its own self-determination, for its territorial integrity against Putin’s aggression, but it is also fighting for the values that unite and define Europe.” Still On Thursday morning, Habeck laid flowers at a memorial wall for fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
The Minister of Economics is accompanied by a business delegation. The focus of the trip was Russia's recent attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, emergency aid, strengthening the Ukrainian economy and economic relations with Germany.
Air alarm triggered
Just a few hours after Habeck's arrival, an air alarm was sounded in Kiev. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, there was a threat of a missile attack. According to the air force, the night before there had been Russian drone attacks in seven regions that were successfully repelled. Russia has recently increased its missile and bomb attacks on Ukraine. The attackers recently also switched off many Ukrainian power plants. At the weekend, the federal government announced that it would supply the country with another Patriot air defense system.
Habeck: Putin also targets the civilian population
Habeck said that in addition to military destruction on the front, Russian President Vladimir Putin was also targeting the civilian population. The Ukrainians impressed him with their ability to improvise during his last visit a year ago. “The situation is certainly challenging, but the Ukrainians have been able to hold their ground time and time again over the last two years. And whatever Germany can do to support it, it will do it.”
Helmut Rauch, the head of the defense company Diehl Defense, which produces the Iris-T-SLM anti-aircraft systems, accompanied Habeck. “Our long-term goal is of course that the systems can be maintained, repaired and the like on site in Ukraine,” said Rauch. So far, Diehl has delivered three systems to Ukraine. The system is used to protect Kiev. A fourth system will be delivered by his company in the coming weeks, said Rauch at a meeting between Habeck and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs Julia Swyrydenko and business representatives. More should follow this year.
Habeck then said that he hoped for the adoption of the next US aid package for Ukraine, “so that Ukraine can successfully fight for freedom.” Svyrydenko described the package as “extremely important.” Ukraine has a budget gap of around 37 billion euros this year. Help from the EU Commission is important. “But of course we rely on this US aid, not only in terms of macro-financial support, but above all in the sense of military aid.” Macro-financial aid means financial aid.
German companies are interested in Ukraine
In the US, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a long-delayed aid package on Saturday. 61 billion US dollars are earmarked for Ukraine. Washington also said that President Joe Biden should provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missile systems “as soon as practicable.”
The President of the Federal Solar Industry Association, Jörg Marius Ebel, also accompanied Habeck. He sees a lot of potential in Ukraine. Solar energy is cheap and accepted and is also modular. “That means it is also very, very suitable for future attacks because it cannot be threatened or even switched off with one blow. It can be installed incredibly quickly and can be stored, making it the ideal way to generate energy and electricity in Ukraine.”
There is “very great interest from German companies in coming to Ukraine and producing and building partnerships,” said Habeck. Ukraine is moving towards the European internal market. It is “a large country, one of the largest countries in Europe, a well-educated, young population that offers ideal partnerships from an economic perspective.”
Habeck wanted to meet, among others, President Volodymyr Selenskyj in Kiev. Habeck will then travel on to Moldova, where he wants to meet, among others, Prime Minister Dorin Recean. dpa