European allies reaffirm 'unwavering support' for Ukraine in Rome
European foreign ministers have reiterated their "unwavering support for Ukraine," during a conference hosted by Italy's top diplomat Antonio Tajani in Rome on Thursday.
The meeting focussing on EU security and the war in Ukraine was attended by the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland, alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
It came less than a month before the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, scheduled for July 10-11, at which some 2,000 representatives from politics, business and international organizations plan to discuss Ukraine's long-term prospects.
In a joint declaration, the ministers affirmed their commitment to Ukraine's "people, democracy, security, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders."
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Ukraine's Sybiha: "Our support ... for Ukraine remains rock solid: politically, economically and militarily."
Asked by a journalist when he was planning his first call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the German minister said he currently did not see any reason or opening for such a move.
Wadephul, who took office on May 6, said Germany would always coordinate such steps with its European partners.
While stressing that Berlin was "naturally always open to negotiations" in this format, Wadephul said that it must be "acknowledged that Russia is not ready to negotiate, but is seeking war."
As long as this is the case, "we stand firmly alongside Ukraine."
Wadephul's comments came amid a debate back home sparked by members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior partner in government, who have called for direct diplomatic calls with Russia.
Both the SPD leadership, as well as Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who like Wadephul belongs to the conservative bloc, have rejected the demands, stressing that the recent heavy attacks on Ukraine showed that Russia was nowhere near ready to negotiate.
After a bilateral meeting with Tajani, Wadephul's schedule sees him leave Rome for the Middle East on Thursday evening. Through Sunday, he plans to visit a host of countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.
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