Pistorius must act "much more decisively and quickly" than his predecessor Christine Lambrecht, the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister continued. "In this way he can prove that Germany has shelved its refusal tactics forever." Nevertheless, the government in Kyiv is "not under any illusions," said his country's former ambassador in Berlin. Pistorius has made controversial statements in the past, for example when he wanted to "review" the EU sanctions against Russia in 2018.

Also in the newspapers of the Funke media group (Wednesday editions) Melnyk demanded the delivery of heavy weapons. In view of the "increasingly ruthless actions of Russia" against Ukrainian civilians, there should be "no longer any red lines that it drew itself." Before the meeting of the Ukraine-supporting countries in Ramstein on Friday, he hopes that "our allies will take new courageous steps," said Melnyk. He urged the Western partners to "launch a broad armored alliance, with the Leopards, Abrams and Challenger at its core."