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54 Opinion KRUK REPORT:
Merkel gives Poroshenko an image bump with a trip to Kyiv
Kateryna Kruk in Kyiv
Angela Merkel crushed it with Ukrainian (and Russian) media when she welcomed the presidential honour guard battalion in Ukrainian. Her “I greet you warriors!” became an instant sensation in the Ukrainian media space as it was seen as a sign of respect for the Ukrainian armed forces. Another symbolic gesture by
the German chancellor was to visit the memorial of the “Heavenly Hundred” that commemorates those that died in the Euromaidan protests in 2014 and pay her respects to the heroes of the Revolution of Dignity. However, her visit was not only about symbols but also about making very concrete statements.
Merkel’s visit to Ukraine coincided with the Russian announcement of new sanctions against Ukraine and the Ukrainian political establishment as well as Merkel’s own statement that she doesn’t plan to run for the chancellorship again. Her first visit in the last four years almost seemed like an ad-hoc one: although planned long in advance, it was confirmed only on Monday.
It is worth taking more than just the international context of the visit into account. Ukraine will soon enter a presidential race so Merkel came in one of the last moments when her
visit wouldn’t be treated as a direct support for the incumbent president. Nevertheless, it was a sign of support of a certain kind. Unquestionably the most influential leader in Europe was particularly diplomatic and cautious during the press briefing, speaking of Ukrainian successes, international
efforts to bring peace to Donbas, and Germany’s technical
and financial support for Ukraine. She didn’t openly criticise Poroshenko or other political leaders for some internal failures and focused instead on the growing cooperation between Ukraine and Germany. In terms of image, that visit was particularly successful for Poroshenko. Ukraine’s incumbent president, who is in third place in the latest elections poll
after Yulia Tymoshenko and comic artist Volodymyr Zelenskiy, undeniably enjoyed the praising words of the German leader, however cautiously they were expressed.
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Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kyiv
Germany is one of Ukraine’s most important trade and development partners, but its biggest significance for Ukraine is its role in the peace-building process. Germany, and Merkel in particular, are known as the main architects of the Minsk agreement.
In Ukraine, the Minsk agreement falls into the category of “almost surrender” and in general Ukrainians are very critical of the deal. This sentiment is known in Berlin too. Merkel has emphasised that it is very important that Ukraine continues fulfilling its provisions and that she enthusiastically welcomed the recent prolongation of the law on the special status of certain regions in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Undoubtedly, the steps that Ukraine is making to follow the provisions of the Minsk agreement are an important element of keeping the entire European architecture of sanctions against Russia in place. If Ukraine can’t show at least some
“Merkel came in one of the last moments when her visit wouldn’t be treated as a direct support for the incumbent president”
progress from its side on meeting Minsk’s conditions, all Ukrainian criticism of Russia’s torpedoing the peace-process would be very weak. However, this is the reminder that Ukrainian politicians should constantly get from abroad and Merkel delivered it this time too.
Merkel stressed that although the Minsk format has not brought a lasting ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine there are no alternatives to the existing document and all sides should respect it. Nevertheless, she reaffirmed that Germany supports the idea of deploying a UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas