Russia’s war of aggression continues to ravage Ukraine each and every day and the people of Kyiv are facing the heaviest shelling in months. Day in, day out, the Kremlin’s drones and missiles are striking innocent civilians in Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine is defending itself with impressive strength, courage and determination. The Ukrainian forces near Sumy have managed to halt the Russian summer offensive for the time being. One thing remains clear, however, which is that Russia’s aggression threatens not only Ukraine but also our security throughout Europe. Together we are fortifying ourselves against this threat, which is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. And we are continuing to strengthen our defences. We reaffirmed this once again with our partners around the world at the NATO Summit in The Hague last week.

Europe stands resolutely by Kyiv’s side

We will continue to support Ukraine in all areas –especially in the military domain. Germany’s support is having an impact, whether in the form of self-propelled howitzers, the IRIS-T air defence system or drinking water treatment plants.

Foreign Minister Wadephul met Ukrainian President Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for talks.

Upon his arrival in Kyiv, Foreign Minister Wadephul stated the following:

Foreign Minister Wadephul also held talks with representatives from Ukrainian civil society during his visit. Among other things, they discussed the reform efforts Ukraine is undertaking to combat corruption and gradually align itself with EU standards. We are fully committed to freedom, stability and prosperity in Ukraine and will continue to support the country on its path towards EU and NATO membership.

Commemorating the crimes committed by Nazi Germany in Babyn Yar

A visit to the memorial site in Babyn Yar is particularly moving for all Germans. Within the space of two days, on 29 and 30 September 1941, SS troops murdered more than 33,000 Jewish men, women and children here on the outskirts of Kyiv. In total, more than 100,000 people were murdered on the Babyn Yar site during the Second World War up until liberation.

The Babyn Yar massacre is symbolic of the cruelty of the Shoah in Ukraine. For decades, the massacre was a taboo subject in the Soviet Union and commemorating Jewish victims was forbidden.

Today, Babyn Yar is a memorial and a place of remembrance for the victims of Nazi violence. On 1 March 2022, Russian missiles struck Babyn Yar, setting fire to a building at the memorial site.

Odesa: Contested gateway to the world

The port of Odesa connects Ukraine with the world. Every year, millions of tonnes of goods such as grain and sunflower oil are shipped from here to Africa, Asia, the US and Europe.

The Russian army continues to target the strategically important Black Sea ports from the air. Time and again, tonnes of grain have been destroyed by missile attacks; just recently, port workers were killed. Foreign Minister Wadephul and his Ukrainian counterpart Sybiha visited the port facilities to see the situation on the ground for themselves.

Germany is providing federal guarantees for the largest freight terminal – this is the second-largest German investment in Ukraine. Likewise, our support for air defence is protecting people and also helps ensure that the ports, which are of such crucial importance, remain operational despite the constant Russian attacks.

Supporting Moldova’s path towards the EU

Ukraine’s small neighbour has been successfully standing up to the direct impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine for years, and in particular to the massive Russian disinformation campaigns carried out within Moldova’s borders. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is posing major challenges for the country. When the war broke out, Moldova took in the largest number of refugees from Ukraine per capita.

The war also dramatically exacerbated the energy crisis in the country. However, with the support of Germany and its partners, Moldova has managed to stabilise its economy and fend off Russia’s hybrid attacks. Moldova has been an EU accession country since June 2022. In October 2024, a majority of Moldovans voted in a referendum in favour of enshrining the country’s accession to the EU in the constitution.

The courageous people of Ukraine and Moldova are defending European security, our values and our freedom each and every day. For NATO, the EU and all Europeans, it is clear that, in the face of the Russian threat, we will now be investing heavily in our defence capabilities so that we too can contribute to the security of our continent.