Foreign Minister Wadephul is calling for more Ukrainian orders from the German defense industry

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling on Ukraine to place more orders with German arms companies. "We are now Ukraine's strongest supporter in terms of financial and military support," the CDU politician told the "Bild" newspaper. “And it naturally has to be the case that the German defense industry benefits from it.” He also said that to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj during his last visit to Kyiv, says Wadephul.

The minimum is that Ukraine also involves the German defense industry in all procurement measures. “At this point in time, we are not entirely satisfied with the orders there are in Germany,” said Wadephul. "And that's why we've now asked the Ukrainian government to check this and make sure it gets better."

The Foreign Minister also agreed with CSU leader Markus Söder's demand that Ukrainian men of military age should return to Ukraine from Germany. For example, the German government knows who is here based on registration data and can help Kyiv write to the men. However, the return to Ukraine should take place “without coercion”.

At the same time, Wadephul responded to the recent statements by his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about alleged German war intentions following the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. He rejected her sharply. "We know very well, and of course Sergei Lavrov also knows, that Russia did this thing in Leipzig - and that we reacted to it, had to react to it."

At the beginning of August, a drone loaded with explosives was discovered at Leipzig Airport, near which Ukrainian cargo planes were located. The federal government blames Russia for the attempted attack (you can read the SPIEGEL reconstruction here). Lavrov then said on Sunday that the accusations against Moscow were "basically the beginning of a real war" (more here).

The fact that Lavrov made his statement on election day in Saxony-Anhalt may have been intended to cause further uncertainty, said Wadephul. "We have to deal with the fact that this Russian government is trying to influence our society in every way it has." But Germany will not allow itself to be intimidated.

Lavrov's statements were also "an expression of a certain Russian desperation," said Wadephul. The Ukraine war “should be over in a few days – and now we are in the fifth year.”

Russia recently began attacks on the Ukrainian capital again after a three-day break. Five people died, as the emergency services have now announced. In addition, 35 people were injured. According to officials, drones and rockets damaged at least 14 high-rise buildings.