German Vice Chancellor Makes Unannounced Visit to Ukraine for Emergency Energy Assistance Talks
German Minister of Economy and Vice Chancellor Robert Gabek arrived in Kyiv early on April 18 for an unannounced visit. The German high-ranking official will hold talks with Ukrainian leadership, focusing primarily on assisting the energy sector after devastating Russian attacks, as reported by RND.
Specifically, Robert Gabek plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. The Vice Chancellor intends to discuss with Ukrainian counterparts how Germany can provide emergency assistance in light of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and ensure its reliable protection.
Robert Gabek also emphasized that his visit confirms Germany's commitment to continue providing long-term support to Ukraine.
"Even in the third year of the harsh and illegal Russian aggression, Germany firmly stands with Ukraine. Ukrainians are fighting for their self-determination against Putin's aggression; they are also fighting for the values that constitute Europe. Therefore, Germany is interested in ensuring Ukraine's success in its defence campaign," said the German official.
In addition to cooperation in energy, the parties plan to discuss relations in the defence industry. Gabek will be accompanied by a delegation of small businesses with managers and leaders from the energy and defence industries during his visit.
It is noted that since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, the German government has provided 420 million euros in support for Ukrainian energy. The German government intends to allocate an additional 25 million euros to prepare for the upcoming winter.
The German Ministry of Economy advocates for considering greenhouse gas emissions neutrality when rebuilding destroyed power stations and increasingly relying on renewable energy. According to German officials, the advantage of such an approach is that a system primarily relying on solar modules and wind turbines is less vulnerable to Russian attacks due to its decentralization.
Before visiting Ukraine, Robert Gabek visited a logistics base in Zhezhuv, Poland, through which a significant portion of aid from Western allies to Ukraine passes. After visiting Ukraine, the German Vice Chancellor plans to visit Moldova.