Unannounced visit
Pistorius arrives in Kyiv
November 21, 2023, 5:00 a.m
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US Defense Secretary Austin has just finished his visit to Ukraine when his German counterpart is traveling to Kiev: Boris Pistorius wants to talk there about, among other things, the training of Ukrainian soldiers and further military aid.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Ukraine for an unannounced visit. The SPD politician arrived in the capital Kiev by train early in the morning. Talks with his Ukrainian colleague Rustem Umerov and President Volodymyr Zelensky are planned for the rest of the day.
With his visit, the minister wants to reaffirm Germany’s support for Ukraine, according to the ministry. The big topics of the trip are the training of Ukrainian soldiers and military aid. In addition to political discussions, a wreath-laying ceremony on Maidan Square, where the pro-European protests began ten years ago, and a visit to a Ukrainian military training facility are also planned.
The Defense Minister’s visit takes place against the backdrop of a recent increase in Russian air strikes in Ukraine. Like last winter, Kiev expects massive attacks on its energy supply infrastructure in the coming months. At the end of October, Germany delivered a third Iris T-SLM air defense system. Another is to follow as part of the German “winter package” for Ukraine.
It is Pistorius’ second visit to Kiev since taking office as defense minister. He was last in Kiev in February. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also arrived in Kiev on Monday for his second visit since the start of the war.