Status: 03/06/2023 12:00 p.m
The SPD has a difficult time in Ukraine because of its Russia policy before the invasion. Chairman Klingbeil and parliamentary group leader Mützenich are now visiting Kiev for the first time, where they are confronted with admiration and demands.
At the start of his joint visit to Kiev, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil assured Ukraine of further support for the defense against Russia. At a meeting with Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, he pointed out that Germany had already delivered or promised numerous weapon systems in addition to political and financial aid.
He called the anti-aircraft system “Iris-T” and the tanks “Leopard 2” and “Marder”. “Rolf Mützenich and I are here now to talk to many people in Ukraine and to see what further support can look like. And above all to make it clear that the support we are providing will continue without restriction,” said Klingbeil.
Klitschko: Important signal
Klingbeil and Mützenich had arrived in Kiev on a special train that morning. It is the couple’s first trip to Ukraine since the Russian invasion a little over a year ago.
Kiev’s mayor called her visit “an incredibly important signal to Ukraine and outside of Ukraine”. It is important for him to talk to them about further support for his country. “The stronger the support for Ukraine, the faster we will win this war.”
Klingbeil and Mützenich want to meet representatives of the government and parliament, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in the course of the day. According to the SPD press office, the politicians will be there “until this evening”. For security reasons, the exact program of the visit was not initially published.
Particularly Mützenich offended
The SPD has a difficult time in Ukraine because of its earlier Russia policy. It is accused of having misjudged Russian President Vladimir Putin for decades and relying too heavily on cooperation with Russia.
However, both Klingbeil and Mützenich have already openly admitted misjudgments. In particular, Mützenich has repeatedly been offended in Ukraine because of his reluctance to deliver arms and his promotion of diplomacy.
So far, neither the SPD nor the federal government have wanted to take part in the discussion about the delivery of fighter jets. However, several NATO countries have shown themselves open to such a step.
Melnyk: Should be followed by action
In an interview with the dpa news agency, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk said it was important for the SPD leadership to finally visit Ukraine “to see the horrors of Russian aggression with our own eyes.” She should follow up her visit with action.
He hopes that Klingbeil recognizes the need to persuade the federal government to release fighter jets. However, the diplomat doubted that Mützenich would change his position on arms deliveries after his return to Germany.