Federal Economics Minister Habeck traveled to Ukraine for a visit. The focus of the discussions is Russia’s recent attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and economic relations with Germany.
Accompanied by a business delegation, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck traveled to Ukraine for a visit. He arrived in Kiev by train in the morning. Even in the third year of the brutal war of aggression that violates international law, Germany remains firmly on Ukraine’s side, the Federal Minister of Economics declared after his arrival.
Support also included reconstruction and a resilient energy supply. Private investments are central to this. The fact that a business delegation accompanied him shows “that the German economy also has the future of Ukraine in Europe firmly in view,” he emphasized. As a future EU member and with well-educated people, there are opportunities for German and international companies.
Package of measures for reconstruction
Last week, the Federal Cabinet approved a 15-point plan for the economic reconstruction of Ukraine. The focus of the package of measures is financial subsidies and interest subsidies for small and medium-sized companies in Ukraine as well as investment guarantees for German companies.
Habeck wants to meet President Volodymyr Selenskyj, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economics Julia Svyrydenko and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in Kiev, among others.
Russia recently increased its missile and bomb attacks on Ukraine. Many Ukrainian power plants were also switched off. Habeck said that in addition to military destruction on the front, Russian President Vladimir Putin was also targeting the civilian population.
Ukraine is in an increasingly difficult situation: for months it has repeatedly appealed to its allies to provide more ammunition and more resources for air defense. At the weekend, the federal government announced that it would supply the country with another “Patriot” defense system.
Next stop Moldova
After Ukraine, Habeck also wants to visit the neighboring country of Moldova. “Moscow’s aggression is also having a powerful impact on Ukraine’s neighbors. Germany supports the Republic of Moldova as a reliable partner in countering Russian attempts at destabilization and accompanies the country on its path to the EU,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Georg Schwarte, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, April 18, 2024 8:50 a.m