Status: 01/17/2022 1:23 p.m
In Kiev, Foreign Minister Baerbock emphasized Germany’s friendship with Ukraine and called for a peaceful solution to the conflict with Russia. Baerbock relies on a revival of the Normandy format.
In Kiev, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the solidarity of Germany and the European Union with Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be the subject of negotiations, Baerbock said after consultations with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The Green politician stressed that talks about the country’s security would not take place without Ukraine: “We are not talking about Ukraine without Ukraine,” she said.
Baerbock stressed that tensions between Russia and Ukraine must be resolved diplomatically. However, she warned Russia that aggression against Ukraine would come at a high cost – “economically, strategically and politically”.
Germany wants to revive the Normandy format
Baerbock also said no country has the right to dictate to another country which alliances it can enter into. “We are ready for a serious dialogue with Russia,” because diplomacy is the only viable way to defuse the situation, said the minister.
“We will try everything to bring the Normandy format back to life together,” said Baerbock, referring to the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany that are currently on hold. With her French colleague Jean Yves Le Drian, she will soon be visiting Ukraine again and then going “to the people on the contact line” in the east of the country.
Demian von Osten, ARD Moscow, currently Kiev, on Germany’s role in the Ukraine conflict
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Baerbock’s trip takes place on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. At the beginning of her inaugural visit to Ukraine, Baerbock met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission there. In addition to talks with German Mission staff, a meeting with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship in Ukraine, Mikko Kinnunen, was also planned in Kiev.
Baerbock then visited the monument to the “Heavenly Hundreds” on the Maidan in the center of Kiev. The dead of the pro-European revolution of 2014 are commemorated there.
Baerbock travels on to Moscow
A meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled for the afternoon. Baerbock wants to travel on to Moscow that evening. Talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are scheduled there on Tuesday.