Habeck unexpectedly travels to Kiev – a short time later the air alarm sounds
Robert Habeck and a business delegation unexpectedly arrived in Kiev. There, the Vice Chancellor would like to find out, among other things, about the state of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and talk about emergency aid. A few hours after Habeck’s arrival, the air alarm sounded.
vVice Chancellor Robert Habeck arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for a visit. He will be accompanied by a business delegation. The focus of the trip is Russia’s recent attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, emergency aid, strengthening the Ukrainian economy and economic relations with Germany. During his visit, the Economics Minister also wants to prepare the Ukraine Recovery Conference for Ukraine in Berlin in June.
Upon his arrival, Habeck said that the visit came at a time when Ukraine needed all support in its fight for freedom. “And it is a fight for freedom.” He added: “Yes, Ukraine is fighting for its own self-determination, for its territorial integrity against Putin’s aggression, but it is also fighting for the values that unite and define Europe.”
Air alert a few hours after arrival
Just a few hours after Habeck’s arrival, an air alarm was sounded in Kiev. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, there was a threat of a missile attack. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the night before there had been drone attacks in seven regions that were successfully repelled.
Russia has recently increased its missile and bomb attacks on Ukraine. The attackers recently also switched off many Ukrainian power plants. At the weekend, the federal government announced that it would supply the country with another Patriot air defense system. Habeck said that in addition to military destruction on the front, Russian President Vladimir Putin was also targeting the civilian population.
“Whatever Germany can do to support it, it will do it.”
The Ukrainians impressed him with their ability to improvise during his last visit a year ago. “The situation is certainly challenging, but the Ukrainians have been able to hold their ground time and time again over the last two years. And whatever Germany can do to support it, it will do it.”
Helmut Rauch, the head of the defense company Diehl Defense, which produces the Iris-T-SLM air defense system, accompanies Habeck. “Our long-term goal is of course that the systems can be maintained, repaired and the like on site in Ukraine,” said Rauch. So far, Diehl has delivered three systems to Ukraine. The system is used to protect Kiev.
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. Habeck will then travel on to Moldova, where he wants to meet, among others, Prime Minister Dorin Recean.