German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Kiev on Monday, where she was briefed on the deployment of anti-aircraft defences.
Baerbock assured Ukraine of Germany’s continued support in the face of the impending third winter of war and ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure.
“Germany, together with many partners around the world, stands firmly by Ukraine’s side,” Baerbock said.
“We will support the Ukrainians for as long as they need us so that they can follow their path to a just peace.”
The minister arrived in the Ukrainian capital by special train this morning. It is Baerbock’s eighth trip to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 and was not announced for security reasons.
Almost 1,000 days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Baerbock paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
She said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to break them with his war of attrition.
“We are countering this brutality with our humanity and support,” she said, adding that the Ukrainians are also defending the freedom of everyone in Europe.
Baerbock briefed on anti-aircraft defences
During her visit, Baerbock was briefed on the deployment of the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks supplied by Germany.
Ukrainian soldiers told her that they had shot down three Russian drones in the greater Kiev area just on Friday.
They also asked Baerbock for more support in the form of materials and ammunition.
So far, Germany has supplied Ukraine with 55 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, including spare parts and 176,000 units of anti-aircraft ammunition from Bundeswehr and industry stocks.
Gepard tanks are considered particularly effective in repelling drone attacks.
Baerbock also reiterated her commitment to providing Ukraine with additional air defence systems: “We are leaving no stone unturned globally; every single air defence system matters.”
Over the weekend, after a week of more than 900 Russian bombing raids according to Ukrainian figures, President Volodymyr Zelensky had called on his allies for more help with air defence.
“Ukraine needs more defence systems,” he wrote on the messaging platform Telegram.
According to the Ukrainian president, Russia also launched around 500 drone attacks last week, most of which targeted civilian and critical infrastructure – in particular energy facilities.
German foreign minister visits Ukrainian energy plant
Baerbock also visited an energy plant near Kiev that was still producing electricity despite being hit by Russian missiles several times.
The minister said that a “winter protection umbrella,” which Germany recently expanded by providing an additional €170 million ($185 million) for energy relief, is the answer to destroyed heating plants and power lines.
She also praised the “courageous steps” Ukraine had taken towards reform and said the country was closer to the European Union than ever before.
Germany, she said, was supporting the country’s path to reform, particularly in its fight against corruption and for media freedom.
