Baerbock dampens expectations of a quick solution to the Ukraine conflict

In Kiev, Foreign Minister Baerbock is campaigning for a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict. However, she does not expect quick successes in the mediation attempts between Kiev and Moscow.

Actually, there should have been something to celebrate – on this inaugural visit. Because 30 years ago today, Germany and Ukraine established diplomatic relations. But instead of intensively discussing exchange projects, the tensions between Russia and Ukraine were discussed once again.

“Unanimous” support for Ukraine

The massive presence of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and the threatening rhetoric are also giving the new German foreign minister sleepless nights. It is clear that Germany is ready to do everything to guarantee Ukraine’s security: “And the most effective lever we have to back Ukraine is the unequivocal and above all the unanimous commitment of the EU, the G7, NATO that any further aggression would have a high price for the Russian regime. Economically, politically and strategically. And we mean that very seriously,” said Annalena Baerbock.

Baerbock rejected renewed demands from her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba for the delivery of defensive weapons. Germany’s restrictive arms export policy has good reasons, said the Foreign Minister, referring to German history. “Diplomacy is the only viable way to defuse the current highly dangerous situation,” said the Green politician.

Kuleba showed no disappointment. He merely stated that Ukraine knows where to get what kind of weapons and how to use them to defend the country. “We work on it every day. We don’t get bad results. And we will continue our dialogue with Germany on this issue.”

Kuleba emphatically welcomed the fact that Germany wanted to get more involved in the Crimean issue than before. And that Baerbock, together with her French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, wants to start a new attempt to pacify the war in eastern Ukraine.

Humanitarian situation “more than depressing”

In the morning, Baerbock was informed by representatives of the OSCE mission, which is monitoring the situation in the conflict zone. The humanitarian situation is more than depressing, she explained. The suffering of the people got lost in the debate.

Baerbock wants to bring Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table. “It’s incredibly difficult, I’d like to say that at this point too. There isn’t this one magic door that you can open and then and then the crisis is solved. But maybe it’s possible to “open at least a few windows”, said the German Foreign Minister.

Baerbock knows that this requires staying power and strong nerves. But she is determined to try anything. First thing tomorrow when she visits Moscow.