German and Ukrainian cities should enter into partnerships. That is what the two Presidents Steinmeier and Zelenskyj want. They hope that this will contribute to Ukraine's future EU membership - and send a clear signal to Russia.
Against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj have called for German-Ukrainian town twinning. Such connections make a "decisive contribution to building and strengthening our common Europe," according to an appeal by the two presidents published on the occasion of Steinmeier's visit to Ukraine. German-Ukrainian town twinning should also contribute "to Ukraine's future EU membership".
"Sharing EU best practices" and "supporting adjustments to EU standards" could "strengthen Ukraine's European path". Municipal partnerships are "at the heart of our bilateral cooperation," it said. The connections between German cities and Ukrainian cities also offer "a basis for real solidarity in the face of war". They sent "a clear signal to Moscow: your war will not divide us - it will bring us even closer together as Germans, Ukrainians and as Europeans".
According to the joint appeal, Federal President Steinmeier is also assuming "symbolic patronage" for development and reconstruction projects in the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine. Steinmeier had arrived unexpectedly in the morning for a visit to Ukraine and had expressed his solidarity with the people in the country.
Shortly after Steinmeier's arrival in Koryukivka, north-east of Kyiv, an air raid alarm forced him into an air-raid shelter. There the Federal President spoke to people about their lives during the Russian war of aggression. Steinmeier also met the Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko. He had this show him the consequences of the latest Russian air raids, for example a destroyed house.
It is Steinmeier's first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. He had originally planned to travel to Kyiv with his colleagues from Poland and the three Baltic states in mid-April. The Federal President, who as foreign minister and chancellor's office minister played a key role in shaping German Russia policy in the past, was then summarily dismissed by Kyiv - which caused considerable resentment on the German side.
