German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin must understand that Germany’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering, Reuters reports.
“Putin should have no illusions that Germany’s support for Ukraine could waver,” Klingbeil said.
“On the contrary: we remain Ukraine’s second-largest supporter in the world and the largest in Europe. Ukraine can continue to count on Germany,” he added.
Klingbeil called on Putin to show interest in the peace process in the bloodiest war in Europe in the last 80 years, which began in February 2022. He noted that Ukraine must participate in the negotiations and that a ceasefire and reliable security guarantees are necessary for a lasting peace. “To this end, we are coordinating closely at the international level,” the minister said.
