Germany Reaffirms Strong Support for Ukraine During Kyiv Visit

German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has assured Ukraine that Berlin’s backing remains unwavering, warning Russian President Vladimir Putin not to expect any weakening of German support.

Klingbeil, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday on an unannounced visit, stressed that Germany remains committed as Ukraine’s largest European ally and its second-biggest supporter worldwide.

“Putin should have no illusions that Germany’s support for Ukraine could crumble,” said Klingbeil, who also leads the Social Democratic Party, a junior partner in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative-led coalition. “On the contrary, Ukraine can continue to rely on Germany.”

He urged Moscow to show genuine interest in peace talks to end what he described as Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The war, now in its third year, began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed for a swift resolution, Kyiv and its allies remain cautious, fearing Washington might seek to impose a settlement on Russia’s terms. Klingbeil insisted that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations and emphasized the need for a ceasefire backed by credible security guarantees.

“To this end, we are coordinating closely at the international level,” he said.

Debate over long-term security for Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both backed potential troop deployments under a “coalition of the willing.” Chancellor Merz has signaled openness to Germany’s participation, though such a move would likely face stiff opposition at home and abroad.

Since the start of the war, Germany has committed more than €50.5 billion ($59.2 billion) in support for Ukraine, according to figures from the Finance Ministry.