On surprise visit to Ukraine, German Defense Chief reaffirms Berlin’s support

Second supplier of military assistance to Ukraine after the United States, Germany seeks to reassure after Kiev expressed concern about the future support of its allies, mobilized by the outbreak of war in the Middle East. East.

“I am here again, first of all to pledge additional support, but also to express our solidarity and deep bonds, and our admiration for the courageous, brave and costly fight being waged here,” Mr. Pistorius laying flowers on Maidan Square in central Kiev.

Mr Pistorius arrived by train and was due to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart as well as President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The visit comes after an intensification of Russian air attacks on Ukraine and as kyiv prepares for increased strikes on the country’s energy facilities over the winter.

This is Mr. Pistorius’ second visit to Kiev since he became defense minister at the start of the year, and it comes the day after a trip to Ukraine, also unannounced, from the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

In addition to the wreath-laying ceremony in Maidan Square, where thousands of people demonstrated for weeks ten years ago to demand democratic reforms, Mr. Pistorius was to visit a military training center.

After some initial hesitation, Germany significantly increased its support for Ukraine following the Russian invasion and delivered a wide range of weapons to Kiev, from heavy battle tanks to air defense systems and ammunition.

The conflict has also prompted the government to finance the strengthening of the German armed forces, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz announcing that a fund of 100 billion euros will be dedicated to this.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Germany has firmly supported Israel in its fight against the Palestinian Islamist movement.

Last month, however, Mr Scholz pledged that Germany would maintain its aid to kyiv, saying: “We will support Ukraine as long as necessary.”