Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock has pledged Germany’s support for Ukraine for years – including with heavy weapons. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy paid tribute to his country’s air force. All developments in the live blog.
3:16 a.m
Melnyk invites Saxony’s Prime Minister Kretschmer
The outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, has withdrawn an invitation from the CDU politician to his homeland because of statements made by Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer about the Ukraine war. “With your absurd rhetoric about freezing the war, you are playing into Putin’s hands and fueling Russia’s aggression,” Melnyk wrote on Twitter. Therefore, his invitation to Kretschmer to visit Ukraine was “cancelled”. “They are undesirable. Period,” added the ambassador.
Melnyk was reacting to statements by the Saxon head of government in the ZDF program “Markus Lanz” last Wednesday. In it, Kretschmer said it was important “to stand up for the fact that this war has to be frozen, that we need a ceasefire, that we need negotiations to end this war”. However, he experiences “very little” in the public debate. In the program, Kretschmer condemned “this terrible crime” in view of the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. “Russia must not win the war, that’s absolutely right,” emphasized the CDU politician. However, in this war, one should not try to decide it on the battlefield, as this could have dire consequences for all of us, Kretschmer continued. He emphasized that diplomacy offers the opportunity to talk to each other, even “if you have completely different opinions, if you are enemies”.
3:16 a.m
Baerbock assures Ukraine of years of support if necessary
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has promised Ukraine years of support in the war against Russia if necessary. “Unfortunately, we have to assume that Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons from its friends next summer,” said Baerbock of “Bild am Sonntag”. “Ukraine also defends our freedom, our peace order. And we support them financially and militarily – for as long as it is necessary. Period.” Baerbock expressed the expectation that the war “could last for years”.
Baerbock warned against talking about war fatigue in Germany in view of the months of fighting. “Of course everyone is now feeling the consequences of Putin’s energy war on their own wallets. The social division of Europe is part of Putin’s warfare. We must prevent this. It will be a rocky road, but it is part of our political responsibility to cushion the social imbalances resulting from high energy prices. ” She rejected calls such as those made by Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki from the FDP to use the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline for gas deliveries.
3:16 a.m
Zelenskyj pays tribute to Ukrainian Air Force
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the role of his country’s air force in the war against Russia. “Russia had hoped to destroy our air force in the first hours of the great invasion. And of course that was a completely crazy target for the enemy – like many other targets,” Zelenskyy said in a video message. The pilots are first class and are also praised for their skills by other countries. The head of state had previously congratulated the “Day of the Air Force”. Zelenskyy announced that supporters of Ukraine abroad should also be honored.
Russia invaded the neighboring country on February 24. Last Wednesday the war lasted exactly half a year. On the same day, the country also celebrated 31 years of independence.