President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting in Kyiv with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is visiting our country.
The Head of State thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for cooperation in the field of security, economy, social development, energy, for humanitarian interaction and cooperation at the international level, in particular in the European Union and UN structures.
"Germany's contribution to Ukraine's movement towards peace and restoration of our territorial integrity is significant. Today, we held important negotiations with Mr. President, which fully correspond to such relations between our states," stated Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with media representatives following the meeting with Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Kyiv.
The President of Ukraine also thanked Germany for providing the modern IRIS-T air defense system, which has proven itself very well in protecting the sky and saving people. He expressed hope for continued support in this area.
"It's really a priority today, we all feel it. I hope we can get some more relevant systems in the near future. I informed Mr. President about our other defense needs - they are also a priority for our protection, for the protection of all Ukrainians and the liberation of our land. In particular, this applies to artillery systems, armored vehicles, and other weapons," the Ukrainian Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Frank-Walter Steinmeier also discussed the financial and further political support of Ukraine and focused on reconstruction issues in detail.
"I am grateful to Germany for a clear signal to the political and corporate world that the reconstruction of Ukraine and investments in our country are the reconstruction and development of a future member of the European Union. I am also thankful for Germany's willingness to continue helping us maintain energy resilience," said the Head of State.
The President of Ukraine thanked Germany and all our partners who support the preservation and expansion of the grain export initiative.
"About 9 million tons have already been exported, and this means that tens of millions of people around the world in various countries have been saved from the threat of famine provoked by the Russian Federation. I consider Russian attempts to slow down the supply of food to African and Asian countries by creating an artificial queue of ships absolutely disgraceful. More than 170 ships were recorded in such a queue," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Separately, he thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for supporting cooperation between the First Ladies of Ukraine and Germany.
The Head of State also appealed to the President of Germany with a request to facilitate the Bundestag's recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, which, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is particularly important this year.
He also announced that today, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, the Presidents of Ukraine and Germany approved a joint statement that establishes the personal patronage of Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the restoration of the Chernihiv region.
The issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine were discussed separately.
"Already this year, we will implement all the recommendations of the European Commission regarding Ukraine's acquisition of membership in the European Union. I believe this work should be properly assessed by the EU even before the next package in the framework of the enlargement policy is published," said the President of Ukraine and once again thanked Frank-Walter Steinmeier for meaningful negotiations, today's visit and support for our country.
The Federal President of Germany noted that it was important for him to come to Ukraine at a time when it is suffering from Russian missile and drone attacks, and to demonstrate Germany’s solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.
He said that today he had the opportunity to visit Koryukivka in the Chernihiv region, which suffered from the Russian invasion, and to talk with local residents who experienced the occupation.
"I am extremely grateful to you, Mr. President, for being able to see the situation through the eyes of Ukrainians. I was able to talk to many people today and I want to say that I admire the courage and indomitability of Ukrainians, their willingness to fight," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He said that the so-called winter package was handed over to Ukraine, which includes mobile generators and machines for processing wood for heating.
The Federal President of Germany emphasized that the reconstruction of Ukraine must begin now, without waiting for the end of the war. So it's good that the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine was held in Berlin today.
In the context of accelerating reconstruction, Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted the importance of establishing partnerships between German and Ukrainian cities, and the cities of Waldkirchen and Koryukivka will be an example of such municipal partnership and solidarity. He urged as many communities of Ukraine and Germany as possible to build such partnerships, which would demonstrate to Russia the inseparability of the ties between the two countries.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier also reminded that Germany is already transferring modern IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine.
"I promised the President that soon the Mars II systems and Panzerhaubitze 2000 will be handed over to Ukraine," said the President of Germany.
He also emphasized the continuation of political support for Ukraine, in particular in the movement towards membership in the European Union.
"Many people want an end to the war, a truce. But, as Mr. President said, Ukraine wants to achieve a just peace. I share this opinion: there will be no true peace without justice, and an unjust peace can only cause a new war," said the Federal President of Germany.
