Defense Minister Pistorius back in Kiev
Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (SPD) has arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for his second visit. "I am here again, firstly to pledge further support," said the Minister.
But he also wanted to "express our solidarity, our deep solidarity and admiration for the courageous, brave and costly fight that is being waged here". The program included a meeting with his Ukrainian colleague Rustem Umjerow. On Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was in Kiev.
Pistorius had visited Kiev for the first time in February, just three weeks after being sworn in as Defense Minister. At that time, he had promised the Ukrainian leadership the delivery of more than 100 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks. They are to be delivered in stages by the second quarter of 2024 at the latest.
Minister #Pistorius ist in die #Ukraine gereist, um sich persönlich ein Bild von der aktuellen Lage und der Wirksamkeit der 🇩🇪 Unterstützung zu machen. Zu Beginn seines Besuchs hat er in Erinnerung an die Helden des #Maidan Blumen an der Gedenkstätte in #Kiew niedergelegt. pic.twitter.com/BwGTqNjQCc
— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) November 21, 2023
At the beginning of his second visit, Pistorius paid tribute to the demonstrators who were killed during the pro-European Maidan protests ten years ago. "Courageous people of all ages took to the streets for freedom, for rapprochement with Europe, and paid for it with their lives," said Pistorius. He laid red roses at a makeshift memorial to those killed. The demonstrations began exactly ten years ago on November 21, 2013.
The three months of continuous protests in Kiev ultimately led to the overthrow of Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych. Several dozen demonstrators and 17 police officers were shot dead. As a result, Russia occupied the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed it shortly afterwards. Moscow then supported eastern Ukrainian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for years and launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that continues to this day.
During Pistorius' visit, there were discussions about the need for continued military support in the face of ongoing conflicts and the threat of war. The Minister's solidarity was expressed towards the Ukrainian people enduring these difficult circumstances. Boris Pistorius also participated in a tribute to the individuals who lost their lives during the Maidan demonstrations, which had led to significant conflicts and geopolitical shifts in the region.
Source: www.dpa.com
