PHOTO: REUTERS
Germany backs Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump’s call for his removal
· The Straits Times- Germany reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky after Donald Trump called for his removal, deepening the split between Berlin and Washington.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany would keep backing Ukraine and wants “more pressure on Putin” to force Russia back to peace talks.
- Germany will keep sanctions on Russia, and the UK also promised to strengthen its sanctions, despite Trump easing some US fuel sanctions.
BERLIN – German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul restated Berlin’s support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct 11 following US President Donald Trump’s call for his removal and urged more pressure to be put on Russia to resume peace talks.
Wadephul said Germany remained by the side of Ukraine and its government “and fully support the president as he carries out his difficult duties”.
The comments, at a leadership meeting of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), followed Trump’s call on Oct 10 for Zelensky to be replaced and underlined Berlin’s growing rift with Washington.
Trump, who last week announced a diesel supply deal with Russia, called for Ukraine to replace Zelensky and railed against Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
Germany, the biggest European donor to Ukraine, said on Oct 11 it would maintain sanctions against Russia despite Trump’s announcement that his administration had temporarily lifted US sanctions on Russian fuel.
Wadephul, who met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, said “consistency and clarity” were needed to support Ukraine and bring Moscow to negotiate.
“We don’t need less pressure, we need more pressure on Putin to make him be ready to negotiate,” Wadephul said. “That is what this moment requires and that’s what the government stands for.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelensky on Oct 10 and told him the UK would continue to strengthen its sanctions on Russia, a Downing Street spokesperson said. REUTERS