Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Kyiv on Saturday to express Germany's ongoing support for Ukraine amid Russia's escalating drone and missile attacks. Ukraine is currently observing its 35th Independence Day, a milestone marked under the country's ongoing conflict with Russia, which began in February 2022. The Russian military has intensified its assaults on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including power and heating supplies, leading to the deaths of at least two people in Kyiv and the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday morning.

Earlier this week, Russian missile strikes resulted in at least 16 casualties in Kyiv and over 100 injuries in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown, following an attack on a shopping center. Wadephul, who arrived in Kyiv via a special train, stated that July and August had witnessed the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine in more than four years.

He emphasized that Russia has fired more missiles at Ukraine than ever before and vowed continued German support for Ukraine, particularly in preparing for another winter under the threat of further attacks. Wadephul's visit, his fourth to Ukraine in the past 16 months, comes as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have hit a standstill.