Baerbock in Kyiv: Putin is deliberately carrying out terror against Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians

(Patria) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately carrying out terror against infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine.

Together with Ukrainian officials, she called on international partners to urgently send more air defense systems to Ukraine.

- The fact that he continued the terror against the infrastructure even after winter shows that the Russian president wants to destroy the country, that he wants to destroy people's lives - Baerbock said yesterday during a tour of one of the largest power plants in Ukraine.

Russia destroyed that power plant with missiles. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who toured the power plant with Baerbock, said that the electricity supply is very difficult.

The Russians, he explained, fired 11 missiles at the power plant, of which the Ukrainian army managed to hit six. It no longer had anti-aircraft missiles for the remaining ones.

- Any hesitation and deliberation in supporting Ukraine costs the lives of innocent people, but also threatens our own security - Baerbock emphasized after a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv.

- If you do not stop Russia here and now, its missiles will continue to fly - Kuleba warned.

Baerbock also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who decorated her with the Order of Merit for her support of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy presented her with the Order of Yaroslav the Wise, third degree. The Order is named after Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who ruled the medieval empire of Kyivan Rus' from 1019 to 1054.

For security reasons, Baerbock's visit to Ukraine was not announced. She emphasized that the initiative, originating from Germany, to strengthen Ukraine's air defense has raised almost one billion euros and that efforts are underway to secure even more funds.

Ukraine has been on the defensive for months due to a shortage of equipment, ammunition, and soldiers in the third year of the war. Kharkiv, not far from the Russian border, is under bombardment daily. Russian ground forces have also advanced into the wider region of the city.

Baerbock had to cancel a planned visit to Kharkiv due to the attacks. She visited the city in January last year.

Immediately before the visit, Zelenskyy once again emphasized the urgency of delivering air defense systems and Western fighter jets to Ukraine.

- Unfortunately, the free world lacks speed on these two issues - Zelenskyy said on Monday evening.