German Defence Minister Arrives in Ukraine Unannounced
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday morning for an unannounced visit.
This was reported on Twitter (X) by Bild editor Julian Röpke.
"At exactly 5:00 a.m. local time this morning, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv for his second official visit," the journalist wrote.
The programme of the visit includes meetings with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, laying wreaths on Independence Square, where pro-European protests began ten years ago, and visiting a Ukrainian military training centre.
The German Ministry of Defence said the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm Germany's support for Ukraine.
The main topics of the meetings will be the training of Ukrainian soldiers and military assistance to Kyiv.
This is Pistorius's second visit to Kyiv since taking office as defence minister in January. The last time he visited Ukraine was in February.
At a meeting of EU defence ministers on 14 November, the German defence minister said that the EU would not be able to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 2024. He called on the industry to increase production and said that EU countries were already working with manufacturers to do so.
At the same time, Pistorius believes that in the new security realities, his country should take the main responsibility for ensuring Europe's security. He emphasised that with Russia's open attack on Ukraine, the security situation in Europe has changed radically.
"As the country with the largest population and the largest economy in the centre of Europe, Germany should be the 'backbone' of the policy of deterrence and collective defence in Europe," the German defence minister said.
As The Gaze previously reported, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning. He was accompanied by the Commander of NATO's Allied Forces Europe, US Army General Christopher Cavoli. Austin said that the United States would continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Following the talks with him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would soon receive a new package of military assistance from the United States. "In particular, there will be more artillery - ammunition that is needed now," he said.
As you know, the United States and Germany are the largest suppliers of arms and other assistance to Ukraine.