Germany’s New Foreign Minister Makes First Official Visit to Kyiv
(MENAFN) Johann Wadephul, Germany’s newly appointed foreign minister, made his inaugural official visit to Kyiv on Monday since taking office last month.
“Ukraine will determine whether our Europe remains a place where freedom and human dignity count – or a continent where violence shifts borders,” Wadephul declared upon arrival, according to a statement from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
Highlighting Berlin’s continued commitment, Wadephul emphasized that supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, freedom, and Europe’s broader security remains a top priority. He labeled Kyiv’s liberty and future as “the most important task of our foreign and security policy.”
Wadephul accused Moscow of seeking to “subjugate” Kyiv in the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022. He warned that Russia is banking on Europe weakening its backing for Ukraine.
“We will continue to stand firmly by Ukraine's side so that it can continue to defend itself successfully — with modern air defense and other weapons, with humanitarian and economic aid. That is the promise with which I travel to Kyiv today,” Wadephul stated.
The German foreign minister also charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with refusing to relent from his “maximum” demands, asserting that Putin “wants surrender, not negotiations.”
Wadephul pledged to maintain pressure on Russia by tightening sanctions designed to limit Moscow’s financial resources amid the conflict. He noted ongoing efforts within the EU and the Group of Seven to enforce these measures “with the utmost pressure.”
“The ideology of imperialism that drives Putin is the greatest threat to our security in Germany and Europe. The determination of NATO partners to invest 5 percent in defense and security in the future clearly demonstrates that we, as allies, are prepared to permanently defend our freedom and security,” he further noted.
Wadephul took over the foreign minister role in May from Annalena Baerbock, who will assume the presidency of the 80th UN General Assembly session starting in September.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
