German FM in Kyiv: US must not fall for Putin’s "stalling tactics"

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking in Kyiv on Tuesday, warned that the United States must not be misled by what she described as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "stalling tactics" regarding the war in Ukraine.

"At the upcoming meeting of NATO foreign ministers, we will make it clear to the American side that we should not engage with Putin's stalling tactics," Baerbock said in a statement issued upon her arrival in the Ukrainian capital, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

Her remarks come after the Kremlin stated on March 31 that Russia and the United States were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine and on improving bilateral relations. This statement followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration, saying he was "pissed off" with Putin.

Baerbock, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s outgoing government, emphasized the urgency of continued support for Ukraine, particularly given the reported deadlock in diplomatic negotiations.

"Putin is feigning readiness to negotiate but is not moving one millimeter from his position," she said.

Baerbock’s visit to Kyiv on April 1 marked her 11th trip to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Upon arrival, she announced additional humanitarian aid for Ukraine amounting to 130 million euros (approximately $140 million).

She was welcomed at the train station by her Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, before heading into a series of high-level meetings.

In Kyiv, Baerbock is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian politicians and representatives of civil society. These discussions will focus on Ukraine’s progress toward European Union membership and its ongoing defense efforts against Russian aggression. The German Foreign Ministry confirmed that supporting Ukraine’s resilience remains a priority.

Baerbock’s visit also follows Germany’s recent commitments to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities. In March, she announced that Berlin would soon deliver new batches of weapons to Ukraine to bolster its defense. She also welcomed the German Bundestag budget committee’s decision to allocate 3 billion euros in additional military aid to Ukraine for 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova