More than two years after the start of the Russian war of aggression, CSU parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek is the first high-ranking state politician from Bavaria to travel to Kiev. “The visit is more important than ever at this point in time, because (Russian President Vladimir) Putin continues his massive rocket terror against Ukraine every day. He is not giving up his goal of destroying Ukraine,” said Holetschek before his departure on Tuesday of the German Press Agency in Munich. He will be accompanied, among others, by CSU state parliament member Gerhard Hopp.
The program of the four-day trip on Wednesday includes a meeting with the mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, and a laying of flowers on St. Michael’s Square in the heart of the city. Political talks are also planned with representatives of the Interior and Infrastructure Ministries and the Ukrainian Parliament. A visit to the suburb of Butscha is also planned on Thursday – there were brutal massacres of the civilian population there at the beginning of the war in spring 2022.
“We are clearly on Ukraine’s side and are therefore also helping with specific projects on site,” emphasized Holetschek, who also has donations from Bavaria for projects in children’s health care and the Kiev Polytechnic University in his luggage. Holetschek accused the federal government of acting hesitantly when it came to supplying weapons to Ukraine: “The Chancellor and the federal government must live up to their historic responsibility and finally deliver the urgently needed Taurus guided missiles and more ammunition.” In addition, “the turnaround” must finally be pushed forward in Germany; it must not degenerate into an empty phrase. “That means: improving our own military capabilities, maintaining a clear course towards Russia and further strengthening NATO.”