German development minister arrives in Kyiv to hand over winter aid for Ukraine

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - German Development Minister Svenja Schulze on Thursday arrived in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv to hand over Berlin’s winter aid package for the war-torn country.

“I have now travelled to Ukraine to hand over our winter package here again,” Schulze told reporters on her arrival to the capital, which was shared by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development on X.

Recalling that the Russia-Ukraine war has been ongoing for more than a 1,000 days, Schulze argued that the “declared aim” of Moscow’s airstrikes in the country is to specifically target energy supplies.

She claimed that Russia is specifically targeting such supplies to “ensure that people here sit in the cold and dark,” which she said is “something that people simply cannot endure for long.”

“And that is why we have mobilized additional funds here to help rebuild the electricity and energy supplies here, and to build up the heat supply so that people can cope,” Schulze further said.

She also said that heat and electricity supply in the current temperatures is “vital for survival.”

“And I want to see here on site that the money is really getting to where it is needed, and also get an idea for myself of what else might be needed,” she added.

During a visit to Kyiv last month, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that an additional €200 million in additional winter aid would be provided to Ukraine.