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The forthcoming speech by the Federal President raises hopes for clear words on the once business-friendly policy with Russia.
With Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Federal President was able to pay his respects to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv for the first time last Tuesday. Unwelcome in April because of his Russia-friendly attitude as a former foreign minister, the two statesmen now agreed to expand the town twinning.
A step towards bringing the countries closer together
Such town twinnings are the lowest common denominator between states when it comes to diplomatic rapprochement, says Claudia Kade, department head of “Welt” and “Welt am Sonntag”. Steinmeier’s visit should also be viewed in this way. In substance, not much has been achieved with the expansion of town twinning.
After the long and problematic history, however, it was a matter of overcoming the rifts of spring and the time before that as foreign minister. The same applies to those during the tenure of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, when Steinmeier helped shape German foreign policy as head of the Chancellery.
Why visit Kyiv now?
The Office of the Federal President justified Steinmeier’s trip at this point in time with the fact that the Ukrainian civilian population is suffering particularly now due to the increased attacks by the Russians on civilian targets and that they want to show German solidarity.
“You can certainly see that as credible, but the timing probably also has domestic political reasons,” says Kade, referring to the big speech that Steinmeier wants to give to the German people at the end of the week and which is intended to strengthen the Germans in the crisis.
Legend:
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on October 25. An important step for Germany to relax the heavily burdened relationship.
Keystone/AP
In addition to inflation, energy prices and the economic slump, many municipalities are also reaching their limits by taking in Ukrainian refugees, says Kade. Unifying and encouraging words regarding accommodation, helpfulness and solidarity with the refugees have been expected for a long time: “It makes sense for Steinmeier to have been to Ukraine once to be able to describe his impressions.”
The hope remains that Steinmeier will use his impressions from Kyiv to talk about his mistakes in Russia policy.
Steinmeier also promised in Kyiv that Germany would play a leading role in reconstruction. This is closely linked to the simultaneous conference of the G7 and the EU in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany has often been criticized by Eastern European partners and Ukraine for being too hesitant to provide military support. When it comes to reconstruction, that should be different.
“There is now hope that Frank-Walter Steinmeier actually uses his impressions from Kyiv to talk about his personal mistakes in Russia policy,” says Kade. Likewise, perhaps, about the “wrong decisions or wrong paths” of the governments that were made before the current federal government. Because the interests of Ukraine and Eastern Europe have been pushed into the background too much – in favor of a business-friendly Russia policy.