A pleasant meeting with the newly arrived Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine, Boris Ruge. We have known each other since the time when the Ambassador was the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, which carries a certain symbolism. I congratulated Boris Ruge on his new appointment and wished him success in his important mission in Ukraine.
A large part of the conversation was dedicated to the current security situation. The constant Russian shelling of the entire territory of Ukraine is further evidence of the aggressor’s unwillingness to stop the war. In addition to terrorizing the civilian population, critical infrastructure, and energy, Moscow is deliberately targeting Ukrainian business. I spoke about today’s strike on warehouses in Boryspil and discussed the possibilities of supporting Ukrainian businesses, which continue to operate and contribute to the resilience of the state despite Russian terror.
I expressed gratitude to Berlin for its long-standing and consistent support of Ukraine—politically, financially, and militarily. The main challenge today is to protect Ukraine from Russian ballistic attacks. This is entirely possible with unity, coordination, and a shared vision of how to achieve the end of the war and a just peace.
We also discussed Ukraine’s progress towards integration into the European Union and the progress in implementing necessary reforms. I emphasized that even in wartime, it is critically important to uphold democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and opposition rights. These principles must remain the foundation of a strong, resilient, and European Ukraine.
