Arms and Ukraine's accession to EU: Kuleba meets with German MPs

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has met with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) to discuss supplies of weapons to Ukraine, prosecution for international crimes, calling on the lawmakers to support the launch of the dialogue on Ukraine's accession to the EU by the end of the year.

The Ukrainian foreign policy chief said this at a press conference following his meeting with the head of the Social Democratic Party faction in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, and co-leader of the party, Lars Klingbeil, in Kyiv on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I see this visit as a political signal and a signal of commitment to Ukraine by the Christian Democrats. We discussed a number of issues where, in my opinion, the Bundestag can play an important political role," Kuleba said.

He added that the parties had discussed the role of the Bundestag in holding a debate in German politics and improving the implementation of decisions made by the Federal Government, which includes the supply of weapons from Germany to Ukraine.

"I especially emphasized artillery shells," the minister said.

Kuleba said the participants in the meeting had also discussed Germany's participation in the prosecution of the Russian military and officials for international crimes committed in Ukraine. He also called on his German colleagues to support the launch of the dialogue on Ukraine's accession to the EU by the end of the year.

He also said he hopes that German government officials and politicians realize that Europe will be a safe place to live only if Ukraine wins.

Kuleba expressed confidence that Germany and other partners would continue to support Ukraine, as they understand that what is happening here also concerns their security.

"Europe, and Germany in particular, will not be a safe place to live if Ukraine does not win this war. The only way to a safe and prosperous Europe is the victory of Ukraine. I think that our colleagues in the German government and German politicians, including the SPD party, understand this," Kuleba said.

The minister thanked German lawmakers for playing an important role in ensuring that the Holodomor was recognized as genocide against the Ukrainian people.