Germany's Continued Support For Ukraine

What You Need To Know:

✅ Germany will continue to stand closely by its foreign partner but Ukraine must do its part in contributing to the many requirements needed to stabilize the country and progress;
✅ “We will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine while closely following up on the reforms of Ukraine;”
✅ “The ceasefire can become only sustainable if weapons are withdrawn and if disengagement of troops takes place;”
✅ Ukrainian Visa Liberalization is within reach.

“We will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine while closely following up on the reforms of Ukraine,” says Johannes Regenbrecht, Head of the German Foreign Ministry’s Task Force to Ukraine. Germany, according to Regenbrecht, will continue to stand closely by its foreign partner but Ukraine must do its part in contributing to the many requirements needed to stabilize the country and progress.

Under the Groysman government, Regenbrecht says that reforms are underway. Germany is supportive of Ukraine’s fight against corruption with initiatives such as E-declaration and NABU but more support is needed from the government and the general prosecution. “Sometimes institutions are not working together,” he says.

With ongoing ceasefire violations and the Minsk Protocol’s recent conclusion, a ceasefire was renewed on September 1st. Regenbrecht says that there has been progress, but far too little: “Security is the utmost priority,” he says adding, “We call on everybody to abide by the rules and to stop shooting.”

Acknowledging Russia’s responsibility in the conflict, he says that both sides must adhere to their part of the agreements: “The ceasefire can become only sustainable if weapons are withdrawn and if disengagement of troops takes place.”

While the OSCE has been monitoring the conflict, Regenbrecht says that a “Police mission is not under the discussion at the moment.” What is being deliberated is a mission in support of local elections in the conflict zone.

As for Ukrainian Visa Liberalization within the EU, Regenbrecht says that it is within reach, but he cannot put a specific timeline on when exactly. “The preliminary steps to take by Ukraine have been taken so far.” And the visa liberalization action plan has been negotiated, implemented and accepted by the European Parliament.

Hromadske’s Tetyana Ogarkova spoke to Johannes Regenbrecht, Head of the German Foreign Ministry’s Task Force to Ukraine in September 2016 in Kyiv.