An unannounced surprise visit by the German Vice Chancellor to Ukraine

Robert Habeck, German Vice Chancellor, arrived on Thursday in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, accompanied by an economic delegation.

The visit revolves around the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, supporting the country with emergency aid, strengthening the Ukrainian economy, and economic relations with Germany.

Habeck, who also holds the position of Economics Minister in Germany, intends to prepare during his visit for the Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled to be held in Berlin next June.

Upon his arrival, Habeck said that the visit comes at a time when Ukraine needs all support in its “fight for freedom,” and added, “It’s a battle for freedom… Yes, Ukraine is fighting for self-determination, and for the integrity of its territory against Putin’s aggression, but Ukraine is also fighting for the values ​​that unite and shape Europe”.

Habeck plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko, and Energy Minister Herman Haloshenko, among others.

On Wednesday, Germany asked member states of the European Union and NATO to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses as soon as possible, with Russian missiles bombing Ukrainian cities and the Ukrainian president making urgent calls again for support.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock launched a new initiative aimed at cooperation with the European Union, NATO and other countries, which will be discussed at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting this week.

Ukraine is facing a shortage of ammunition, with Republicans in the US Congress blocking important funding that the United States was providing to Ukraine for several months, and the European Union also failed to deliver the ammunition on time.

“We and our partners around the world must now be resolute in our defense against Russian aerial terrorism,” Baerbock said ahead of the G7 ministerial meeting on the Italian island of Capri.

She added, “Strengthening air defenses is a matter of life and death for thousands of people in Ukraine, and it represents the best protection for our security”.

Habeck is then scheduled to head to Moldova, where he will meet Prime Minister Dorin Recean, among others.

The pro-Western leadership of the country that aspires to join the European Union believes that Moldova, which borders Ukraine, is also under threat from Moscow.