Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal on Sunday expressed hope that Germany would become a leading player in building up its air defenses, as he called for more heavy weapons for Kyiv from Berlin.
Shmygal has become the first senior Ukrainian official to visit Germany in months, a sign that tensions between Kyiv and Berlin have eased after a difficult period.
Germany’s initially faltering response to military support for Kiev following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had caused dismay.
But Schmygal acknowledged during his visit that Germany has significantly increased its military aid since then, with heavy weapons like the Panzerhaubitze 2000 or MARS rocket launchers all “working well on the battlefield”.
The Iris-T air defense system is scheduled for delivery in the fall, he said, adding that Ukraine “hopes that Germany will become one of the leaders in the Ukrainian air defense development process.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech on his vision for Europe on Monday that he saw Germany as having a “special responsibility” to help Ukraine build up its artillery and air defense systems.
Defense ministers from NATO allies are expected to arrive in Germany on Thursday for a United States-led meeting to coordinate military needs for Ukraine.
Ahead of the talks, Scholz stressed Germany’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine, but added that it would be done in coordination with “our friends and allies”.
– “Solidarity” –
The Prime Minister of Ukraine had made the first stop of his trip to Berlin to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at which Schmygal said he had “discussed the military situation, tightening of sanctions and the need to supply arms to Ukraine.” .
Schmygal also thanked Germany “for the solidarity with the Ukrainians and the support”.
Germany will “continue to stand reliably by Ukraine’s side,” Steinmeier assured Schmygal, according to the spokeswoman for the Federal President.
The heartfelt readings of their talks marked a marked shift in tone from previous months, when a row broke out in April over Steinmeier’s rejection of an offer to visit Ukraine.
Steinmeier, former foreign minister of the SPD von Scholz, was avoided because of his years of detente towards Moscow – a mistake he admitted after the outbreak of war.
The German SPD has historically championed close ties with Russia, born out of the “Ostpolitik” of rapprochement and dialogue with the then Soviet Union pioneered by former SPD Chancellor Willy Brandt in the 1970s.
This tradition contributed to Germany’s initial refusal to send any arms to Kyiv, with a previous decision to send only 5,000 helmets causing anger and ridicule.
But the Scholz coalition, which also includes the Greens and the liberal FDP, has now made a sharp about-face.
Howitzers, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft missiles are among the weapons that have arrived in Kyiv.
Heavier weapons such as IRIS-T anti-aircraft systems, pickup truck-mounted rocket launchers and anti-drone devices are part of another military aid package worth over 500 million euros.
Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained in Germany to use Leopard anti-aircraft vehicles.
On Sunday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused Germany of waging a “hybrid war” against Russia, justifying a halt to gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe.
“First of all, Germany is an unfriendly country. Second, it has imposed sanctions on the entire Russian economy… and it is supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine,” Medvedev said in support of his testimony in a message published on Telegram.
After Berlin, Schmygal travels to Brussels, where he takes part in a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council together with the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell.
