Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) is urging for increased support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing war, a call made following his recent visit. He stated to Deutschlandfunk that he is “firmly determined” to speak with several colleagues once more, this time with “great clarity and impact,” to ensure that the situation is properly reassessed by the governments involved. However, he could not guarantee the outcome of these efforts. Wadephul noted that while none of his interlocutors refused his requests, “none of them gave me a commitment.”
He explained that several factors influence the decision-making process. For instance, South Korea is concerned about the threat posed by North Korea, and Greece does not feel perfectly secure. Despite these varying levels of risk, Wadephul believes it must become clear to everyone that the crisis in Ukraine jeopardizes much more than just Ukraine’s sovereignty and freedom-though that is significant enough. It impacts Europe and the world, questioning whether an aggressor can succeed, as has unfortunately happened across the globe throughout the centuries. Because of this global stakes, he argued that the support provided must involve “taking risks.”
Furthermore, Wadephul announced plans to speak with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, by phone to share his observations from Ukraine. He intends to ask Rubio to become more actively involved in the situation. Wadephul observed that, up until now, the efforts have largely rested with the two gentlemen Witkoff and Kushner, adding, “It is possible that I can prompt him to do even more myself.”
