Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Roman Mashovets discussed the security situation in eastern and around Ukraine, ways to improve it and some issues of bilateral security cooperation with Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Tobias Lindner.
During the meeting, Mashovets congratulated Lindner on his appointment as Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office and his first foreign visit to Ukraine.
The deputy head of the Office of the President briefed Lindner on the security situation in the eastern Ukraine and near the borders of Ukraine, the buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, and the strengthening of intelligence activity on the part of the Russian Federation. He noted the intensification of asymmetric and provocative actions by Russia not only against Ukraine but also against other countries, which undermines international security.
Germany paid special attention to the steps made by the Russian Federation, which indicate its preparation for the expansion of aggression against our state.
Mashovets suggested that Germany, as a leading European country, take steps to consolidate the EU, NATO and the entire Western community to prevent further aggressive actions by Russia, including preventive sanction pressure. He said that only coordinated and decisive actions of all European partners in the political, diplomatic, informational, economic and other fields can stop Russian aggression.
The deputy head of the Office of the President said that the readiness of the Western world to practically oppose the aggressive behavior of the Russian Federation can protect democratic values, international principles and preserve world order.
"It will be too late to impose sanctions after the start of the Russian invasion and to express concern, as the notion of the democratic values of Western society will already be undermined. Russia will not stop its aggression against the EU and NATO, which it started in 2008 against Georgia and continued in 2014 against Ukraine," Mashovets said.
The deputy head of the Office of the President proposed that assistance to Ukraine for strengthening its defense capabilities, which is the main deterrent to Russia, is increased and artificial restrictions in this process are not created. The importance of stopping the Nord Stream 2 project was stressed, which will be a clear signal of the determination of Germany and other European countries to resist Russian aggression.
The German minister of state welcomed the bilateral dialogue on security issues launched this week in Brussels by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He reiterated Germany's continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state.
Lindner said that Germany is ready to take decisive action in support of Ukraine and adheres to the policy of dialogue and political and diplomatic settlement of the situation.
He said that Germany supports the full implementation of the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum and never recognizes the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.