Wiesbaden/Kyiv (dpa/lhe) - After a trip to the war-torn Ukraine, Hesse's Europe Minister Lucia Puttrich (CDU) turned her attention to the internally displaced persons there. "In Germany and the EU, we talk a lot about the people who fled to us from Ukraine," said Puttrich, according to a statement on Monday. "But one mustn't forget that at least as many people, millions of women, children and the elderly, have stayed in the country and are seeking protection in the cities as internally displaced persons." With winter just around the corner, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine must also be looked at: "There is a lot missing, for example medical equipment, blankets, emergency power generators and much more."
Puttrich was in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv from September 29 to October 1 with members of parliament from nine European parliaments. The Hessian Minister of State for Federal Affairs represented the Bundesrat. "We met incredibly brave, determined and energetic people in Ukraine. But we also saw faces that clearly showed the terrible events of the past few months," said Puttrich. The trip was, among other things, a sign of solidarity.
Regarding Ukraine's aspired EU accession, the Europe Minister stressed that this country had no illusions about a speedy implementation. It is important "that a concrete way to get there is determined". Puttrich proposed partnerships between individual member states for specific chapters in the accession negotiations.
