German foreign minister pledges continued arms aid during Kiev visit

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Kiev on Monday, pledging continued military aid for Ukraine as it continues to fend off a full-scale Russian invasion, now in its fourth year.

“The freedom and future of Ukraine is the most important task of our foreign and security policy,” Wadephul said during his first visit to Ukraine’s capital since taking office last month.

He added that Germany will “stand firmly by Ukraine’s side so that it can continue to defend itself successfully – with modern air defence and other weapons, with humanitarian and economic aid.”

The trip was kept under wraps for security reasons until his arrival on Monday morning, with Wadephul travelling to Kiev by train alongside representatives from the German arms industry.

Germany is one of Ukraine’s key suppliers of military equipment, weapons and financial aid.

Wadephul is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and pay tribute to the victims of the 1941 Babyn Yar massacre, where Nazi occupation forces murdered more than 33,000 Jewish men, women and children in a ravine on the outskirts of the city.

High-level discussions between German business leaders and Ukrainian officials are also planned, according to the German Foreign Office.

“Ukraine will determine whether Europe remains a place where freedom and human dignity prevail – or becomes a continent where violence redraws borders,” Wadephul stated.

He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not seeking peace, but rather conquest and subjugation at any cost.

“That is why we remain fully committed to supporting Ukraine,” he said, adding that this unwavering stance demonstrates “our resolve as Europeans.”

Wadephul also criticized Putin for refusing to engage in genuine diplomacy, stating that while Ukraine has consistently demonstrated its willingness to pursue serious negotiations to end the war, Putin remains unwavering in his rigid demands.

Wadephul previously visited Ukraine on May 9, days after assuming office, when he took part in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the western city of Lviv.