“Hope the visit will be rescheduled”
Klitschko reprimands Steinmeier for being uninvited from Kyiv
04/13/2022, 09:37 am
The Ukrainian President Selenskyj can easily do without a visit from Federal President Steinmeier. For ex-boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko, this is the wrong signal. Right now you have to show “a clear common front against the Russian invasion” with Germany.
Former world boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has criticized Ukraine’s refusal to allow Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit. He is counting on a later trip by the Federal President to the country. “I hope that the Federal President’s visit to Kyiv has only been postponed and can be made up for in the coming weeks,” said the brother of Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Tuesday evening of the “Bild” newspaper.
“I think it’s urgent that we, as Ukraine, continue to build bridges to Germany,” emphasized Klitschko. Right now it is extremely important that Ukraine, together with Germany and the entire European Union, show a clear common front against the Russian invasion. “Germany is the number one partner in providing financial assistance to Ukraine, providing humanitarian assistance, helping refugees massively and sending more and more weapons, even though we need more of them,” he added.
Klitschko said Steinmeier had made “many mistakes” in the past that had “massively damaged” Ukraine. Steinmeier admitted this and apologized. The Ukrainian government had rejected Steinmeier’s visit and instead opted for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to travel to Kyiv.
Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Olexey Arestovych has pleaded for understanding for his government’s cancellation of Steinmeier’s visit to Kyiv. He doesn’t know the reasons, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s policies and decisions are very balanced, Arestovych said on Wednesday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. “Our President is expecting the Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) so that he can make practical decisions immediately, including the delivery of weapons.”
Steinmeier had explained that he wanted to travel to the Ukraine, but that was not what was wanted there. This has triggered a lack of understanding and criticism in Germany. With regard to the expected Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, Arestovych said: “We are a bit exhausted,” as is the Russian side. The fate of the city of Mariupol and other places depended on the delivery of German arms. Every minute counts. The presidential adviser rejected the argument that Ukrainian soldiers first had to be trained on such weapons. Ukrainian soldiers could learn how to use it themselves in three days, he said.