Pistorius receives Umerow: Strengthening Ukraine in the focus of the inaugural visit
Pistorius receives Umerow: Strengthening Ukraine in the focus of the inaugural visit
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerow Berlin visited his inaugural visit to hold talks with the German Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The encounter took place in the Bendlerblock, where Umerow was received with military honor. This wave of travel is another sign of close relationships between Germany and Ukraine, which are of crucial importance in the middle of the still tense security situation in the region.
As part of the visit, a wreath laying was carried out at the cenotaph of the Bundeswehr, followed by a bilateral conversation in which the ministers discussed various topics for military cooperation. A central point was the reinforcement of the Ukrainian Air Force, which, in view of the current conflicts in the country, is of enormous importance for the defense strategies of Kiev. The more focus is on how Germany can help the Ukrainian armed forces to further improve their air defense.
financial support and strategic concerns
A worrying aspect in this context is the current budget situation in Germany, which could lead to a significantly reduced military aid of only four billion euros for Ukraine in 2025. This is about half compared to the budget for the current year. Such cuts in financial support raise questions and cause unrest in Kiev and in the European neighbors who are interested in stability in Ukraine.
In addition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasizes that an aid package planned by the G7 countries in the amount of $ 50 billion is in prospect to support Ukraine. This sum is to be financed in Europe through interest profits to frozen Russian assets in Europe. However, it remains to be seen how quickly these aids can actually be mobilized and whether you can compensate for the reduced contribution from Germany in the short or long term.
The encounter between Umerow and Pistorius took place against the background of intensive international discussions on military support for Ukraine. In view of the French-German armaments cooperation and the associated expectations that Germany will further strengthen its role in military aid, this discussion took up further space.
The press conference, which is to take place around 7:00 p.m., is expected to provide further insights into the German plans to support Ukraine and could contain crucial information on how Germany wants to focus on military help in the coming years.
- Nag