German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has promised Ukraine additional support during a visit to Kyiv. "Germany is now making an additional 50 million euros available for humanitarian aid," Wadephul said on Saturday at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv. At the same time, the minister announced further talks on additional air defence systems for Ukraine. At the start of next week, he said, he intends to speak with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the issue and about the diplomatic efforts to end the war.
The German government's additional 50 million euros will go to UN organisations and non-governmental organisations that support people in frontline areas in particular, Wadephul said. The money is to be used, among other things, to repair homes and to provide mobile sanitary facilities and heating units. Germany is paying a further ten million euros into a NATO fund used to finance energy supply, medical supplies and counter-drone systems, among other items.
Turning to Ukraine's air defences and the shortage of ammunition for Patriot air defence systems, Wadephul said that in view of the Russian attacks with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, one thing was clear: "It is not enough." He is therefore holding talks with European and non-European partners about further systems for Ukraine and will continue these in the coming week. "That is by no means a commitment yet, but I am confident that we can achieve something," the minister said. At the start of the week he will speak to his US counterpart Rubio about the matter.
He is also counting on it, Wadephul stressed, "that the United States remains willing to play an active role here, too, in the negotiations with Ukraine." Every possibility for talks must be exhausted, he said. "I believe we need the willingness to take unusual paths as well. We must try by every means to initiate talks," Wadephul said. "At the moment, that is failing because of Moscow."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha likewise argued for greater engagement from Washington. The peace efforts must be "stepped up as far as possible," Sybiha said, adding: "Unfortunately, they are currently on ice. We need more active involvement from the American side." Without the United States, it was "unrealistic to achieve progress or a just peace."
At the same time, on the battlefield there are currently "no signs that the Russian side is ready for a serious negotiating process," Sybiha said. "On the contrary, it has intensified its terror."
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