Leaders of the coalition convene in Kyiv for a combined tour

In a significant move, German parliamentary group leaders Jens Spahn (CDU/CSU) and Matthias Miersch (SPD) have embarked on a visit to Ukraine, marking the first time parliamentary group leaders have visited the country in this format. The purpose of the visit is to show solidarity with Ukraine and put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict.

The visit comes as concerns about directly using frozen Russian assets, estimated to be approximately 210 billion euros, have arisen due to potential legal issues, potential retaliation, and the potential loss of trust in the European financial market. The majority of these assets are held by the Brussels-based financial institution Euroclear.

Spahn and Miersch, who visited German soldiers in the Polish city of Rzeszow on their way to Kyiv, are open to considering the use of frozen Russian assets in response to the ongoing conflict. The airport in Rzeszow, about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is considered the most important hub for the supply of western weapons to Ukraine.

During their visit, Spahn and Miersch witnessed the aftermath of the latest Russian drone and missile attacks in Kyiv, including damage to buildings housing the European Union’s representation and the British Council’s cultural institute. Miersch, who had never been in a war zone before, emphasized the importance of German support, particularly in air defense, in the current situation.

The coalition leaders' visit to Kyiv builds on the retreat of the two parliamentary party leaders, where a fresh start for the Black-Red coalition was called for. Spahn and Miersch also paid tribute to fallen soldiers and visited the suburb of Bucha, which was occupied by Russian troops from the end of February to the end of March 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, more than 450 civilians were killed by the occupation troops during the occupation period. Russia continues to deny this.

The Bundestag plays a crucial role in supporting Ukraine, as it approves budget funds for supporting Ukraine and has the final say on the deployment of German soldiers after a ceasefire. Miersch has stated that a possible deployment of German troops is not ruled out.

Several EU countries, together with G7 partners including the USA, are involved in discussions about using frozen Russian assets to consider new sanctions against Russia. These discussions include measures such as full seizure or investment of these assets, while countries like Belgium oppose aggressive use. The debate also involves indirect sanctions against Russia’s trade partners like China and India and addresses Russian oil export methods.

The mayor of Bucha, Anatolii Fedoruk, expressed discontent over Russian President Vladimir Putin being received with a red carpet by US President Donald Trump in Alaska. The visit by Spahn and Miersch is aimed at strengthening team spirit within the black-red coalition and showing support for Ukraine.