During her first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the war, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht temporarily sought shelter in a bunker because of an air raid alarm. The alarm in the port city of Odessa lasted about 45 minutes on Saturday afternoon. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said the Russians shot down a Kalibr missile, most likely from a ship. In the bunker he advertised the delivery of anti-ship missiles.
The SPD politician said the situation made it clear how important it was to quickly deliver a first promised unit of the Iris-T SLM ground-based air defense system. Lambrecht spoke of delivery in a few days and praised the system’s Ukrainian team, which she met during training in Germany. “Ukraine is currently experiencing an incredible number of air strikes, and that’s why it’s so important that we provide even more support in terms of air defense,” Lambrecht said. “She can count on us there.”
Reznikov said Ukraine will fight until all its territories are liberated, including Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed from Russia in 2014. Lambrecht emphasized: “Brutality must not be allowed to succeed.” She showed understanding for Kiev’s demand that Russia be declared a terrorist state, but did not expressly agree with it. It is important that the EU remains united on the sanctions. Additional sanctions must be discussed. “This is the right way. Putin did not expect the EU to remain so closed.”
The minister also showed understanding for Ukraine’s application to be quickly admitted to NATO. For such a procedure, however, certain conditions would have to be met. “And it is very important: NATO has positioned itself clearly, we will not become a war party. We made that clear at the beginning of this conflict and we will continue to do so.”
Lambrecht also visited injured soldiers in a military hospital. When Resnikov honored deserving soldiers, she thanked the women and men for their commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and European values. The courageous fight of the Ukrainians against the aggressor Russia is viewed with great respect in Germany, she said.
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