German Economy Minister Makes Unannounced Visit to Kyiv, Pledges More Aid for Energy Sector
German Economy and Energy minister Katherina Reiche arrived in Kyiv on Friday for an unannounced visit aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine’s war-damaged energy infrastructure and expanding bilateral cooperation in the defense sector.
The Gaze reports this, referring to DW.
Speaking to reporters during her visit, Reiche said it was her first trip to Ukraine as federal economy minister. “We have the right tools for this work,” she noted. “Together with my team, we are mobilizing financial and procedural resources in close cooperation with German and Ukrainian energy suppliers.”
Reiche announced that Germany will increase its financial contributions to help repair and replace energy equipment destroyed by Russian strikes, pledging to ensure that deliveries of materials and technology arrive on schedule.
She highlighted previous assistance from German firms such as Siemens, RWE, and E.ON, which have already provided transformers, substations, gas compressors, and other critical components.
“We need to intensify these efforts this winter, because Russia’s attacks are increasing. From the beginning, Moscow has targeted Ukraine’s energy supply to wear down the population,” Reiche said.
According to the minister, 55–60% of Ukraine’s gas infrastructure has been damaged since the start of Russia’s campaign. She added that the European Investment Bank has granted loans to Naftogaz to offset declining domestic production and secure gas on international markets.
Germany continues to contribute to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine, which currently totals €390 million, Reiche confirmed.
Beyond energy, the German delegation also focused on defense-industrial cooperation. Reiche was accompanied by representatives of German companies active in security and technology sectors, including drone manufacturing, who are exploring partnerships with Ukraine’s defense industry.
The minister praised Ukrainians’ determination in the face of “insidious and destructive” Russian attacks and said her visit also aimed to draw lessons on “how to endure difficult times over a long period.”
Asked about the potential rise in Ukrainian refugees this winter amid ongoing energy shortages, Reiche confirmed that Germany is already seeing higher arrivals and is “working intensively” to manage the situation.
Her visit comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed next steps ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which coordinates European military and financial assistance to Kyiv.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the German Chancellor said he will push European Union leaders to use frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with a large-scale “reparations loan.”