Wladimir Klitschko (46) surprisingly left the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Wednesday. First he drove to Poland by car, then he continued by plane. According to BILD information, the brother of Kiev’s mayor Vitali has already landed in Berlin.
The Klitschkos had previously said on Twitter: “Friends! Today it is very important to unite all forces – both in Ukraine and to strengthen the position and actions of our partner countries. Vladimir left with a delegation from Ukraine for a meeting in Germany.”
On their Telegram channel, the Klitschkos stated: “Meetings with high-ranking politicians in Germany are planned for political support of Ukraine, economic, humanitarian and military aid for our state.”
After his arrival, Klitschko told BILD: “I came to Germany to support the Ukrainian delegation in political talks in Berlin. It is about further help for Ukraine in a dramatic situation for our country. We are grateful for the aid provided, but we urgently need more humanitarian and military support in the war against the Russian army.”
BILD reporter Paul Ronzheimer, who has been reporting from Ukraine and above all from Kyiv for weeks, about the Blitz mission: “Ukraine is now trying everything again, you could even say a certain charm offensive. Because the debate about weapons has been heated up in the past few days and weeks.” That is why Ukraine is now counting on a man who is loved by Germany, Ronzheimer continued.
According to BILD information, Klitschko will remain in Berlin for at least two days. The delegation had requested several meetings with various ministers.
Ambassador Melnyk attacks Minister Lambrecht
Germany has long hesitated to supply arms to Ukraine. Then came a sudden change of heart after Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin (69) invaded the neighboring country.
The federal government decided to deliver to Kyiv after all. But: according to the Ukrainians, what has been delivered so far is not enough.
Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (56, SPD) said during her visit to the USA on Tuesday: “In terms of Ukraine, I think Germany is now the second largest supplier of arms, without being able to put a number on it now.” But there are doubts.
The Ukrainian ambassador in Germany, Andriy Melnyk (46): “The Ukrainians want Germany to make it into the top 3 of arms suppliers as the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter. Unfortunately, the traffic light is miles away from that at the moment.”
► “We are calling on the federal government to finally step on the gas to protect Ukrainian civilians from Russian war criminals,” Melnyk told BILD.
The Ukrainian ambassador’s demands come at a time when the defense ministry has come under fire. Could Lambrecht have delivered large quantities of weapons to Kyiv a month ago?
This is reported by the daily newspaper “Welt” citing an offer list from the armaments manufacturer Rheinmetall to Minister Lambrecht.
︎ According to this, the Ministry of Defense already had a list on February 28 – four days after the start of the war in Ukraine: Rheinmetall could have supplied weapons worth more than half a billion euros.
Lambrecht has denied the allegation of slow German arms deliveries to Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense has been referring to secrecy for weeks, which means that an independent assessment of German weapons aid has not yet been possible.