German FM arrives on unannounced visit to Kiev: reports
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Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrives in Kiev on May 21 in an unannounced visit.
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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attends the cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on May 15, 2024. (AP)
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baebock arrived in Kiev in an unannounced visit that was not mentioned earlier for security reasons, German news agency DPA reported on Tuesday. The news agency added on X that Baerbock arrived in a show of support for Ukraine.
The German Defense Ministry said on Monday that seven more countries, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium, and Lithuania would supply Ukraine with equipment and missiles as part of the German Air Defense Initiative (IAAD), while Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Canada would financially assist Kiev, after the contact group met online.
This comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he expects Russia to escalate its attack in the northeast, warning that Kiev only has a fourth of the air defenses required to maintain the front line.
He reiterated his plea for more air defenses to Western allies, divulging Ukraine only had "25% of what we need," adding that 120 to 130 F-16s were needed to be at par with Russian air superiority.
Last month, Germany planned to provide an extra Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to strengthen its struggling military and help it defend against escalating Russian aerial strikes.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius alleged that "Russian terror against Ukrainian cities and the country's infrastructure is causing immeasurable suffering," adding that this was "jeopardizing people's energy supply and destroying the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces." That would be Berlin's third Patriot system sent to Kiev, with the Defense Ministry stating that the decision was made at the request of the Ukrainian government and in consultation with partners.
In addition to the Patriots, Berlin has supplied a broad range of additional weaponry, including artillery and armored battle vehicles.
