Annalena Baerbock’s inaugural visit to the Ukraine
Kiev Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has again rejected arms deliveries to Ukraine. Instead, Germany and Ukraine want to start a new diplomatic initiative in the conflict with Russia and are striving to revive the so-called Normandy format. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the Ukrainian head of department Dmytro Kuleba made this clear after a meeting in Kiev on Monday.
“Diplomacy is the only viable way to defuse the current highly dangerous situation,” Baerbock said. The Green politician announced that she would also promote new talks in this constellation at her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday in Moscow.
The Normandy format includes Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine. Mediated by the governments in Berlin and Paris, Russia and Ukraine agreed on the Minsk Agreement in 2015, which is intended to bring peace to eastern Ukraine. There the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists face each other.
Baerbock called the situation in eastern Ukraine “more than depressing”. It is clear to her that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is not up for negotiation. “We will do everything we can to guarantee Ukraine’s security,” Baerbock said. “We have staying power and we will not lose sight of our principles.”
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In the past few weeks, Russia has massed around 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine. The West fears an invasion, which the government in Moscow rejects. Instead, Russia is concerned with security guarantees.
Among other things, President Vladimir Putin is demanding a commitment from NATO that Ukraine will not be included in the transatlantic military alliance. Allianz categorically rejects this.
Instead, the West is demanding a withdrawal of Russian troops from the border area. At the end of last week, Lavrov called on NATO and the USA to react promptly and in writing to the Russian demands.
“And we mean that very seriously”
Baerbock said they have already agreed with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to do whatever it takes to get the Normandy format back on track at all levels. Kuleba suggested organizing a meeting at foreign minister level soon. At the same time, Baerbock affirmed that if Russia invaded Ukraine, this would have “a high price”. She added, “And we mean that very seriously.”
The German foreign minister said the situation was incredibly difficult. “There isn’t one magic door that you can open and then the crisis is solved.” Rather, the different negotiation formats should be used. “And if there isn’t one door, then we will open different windows with which we can ensure that this current threat situation for Ukraine is de-escalated and that we can finally return to the negotiating table.”
Baerbock chose the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Germany and Ukraine as the date for her inaugural visit to Kiev. First, upon her arrival in the morning, the minister met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which is monitoring the situation in eastern Ukraine.
She then laid flowers at the memorial for the victims of the 2014 Maidan protests before meeting Foreign Minister Kuleba. In the afternoon, another meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on the agenda.
In the evening, Baerbock wanted to continue to Moscow, where a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is planned for Tuesday morning. The inaugural visit to Lavrov is scheduled for midday. Before leaving Berlin, Baerbock emphasized: “As the new federal government, we want substantial and stable relations with Russia.”
More: Negotiating with the Russian aggressor: what does Putin want?