Germany vows 'unwavering' support for Ukraine, says finance minister
Russian President Vladimir Putin must be aware that Germany's support for Ukraine is unwavering, German Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday.
"Putin should be under no illusion that Germany's support for Ukraine will collapse," said Mr. Klingbeil, a leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and a junior partner in the governing coalition led by conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The German official stressed that Berlin remains a key supporter of Kyiv. "On the contrary," he said, "we are the second-largest supporter of Ukraine globally and the largest in Europe. Ukraine can continue to rely on Germany."
Mr. Klingbeil urged Putin to show openness to a peace process in what he called "the bloodiest war in Europe in 80 years," a conflict Russia triggered in February 2022.
President Donald Trump has called for a swift end to the conflict, but in Kyiv and among Western allies, fears persist that he could try to force a deal on Moscow's terms.
Mr. Klingbeil asserted that Ukraine must be involved in negotiations and that a ceasefire and reliable security guarantees are needed for a lasting peace. "To that end, we're closely coordinating efforts internationally," he said.
Among the options presented this week for Ukraine’s post-war security, both French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer have supported deploying troops as part of a "coalition of the willing." Chancellor Merz has also signalled Germany's openness to such participation but would face a backlash from both inside and outside his political spectrum on the issue.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
