On Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who was visiting Berlin for the tenth time. She looked back to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992 and praised the friendship that has developed since.

Advising and supporting Ukraine

Over the last two and a half years in particular, since the conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine, this friendship has "proved its worth", stressed Angela Merkel. Germany intends to continue to "stand by Ukraine with advice and support" in future.

25 years ago, on 17 January 1992, Germany and Ukraine first established diplomatic relations, after Ukraine became independent on 24 August 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Peace process still difficult

Relations continue to be dominated by the imperatives of continuing the peace process and the current implementation status of the Minsk agreements. "In the last few hours we have once again been informed that the ceasefire is non-existent," said Angela Merkel. More soldiers have lost their lives, in addition to the over 10,000 people killed since the conflict began.

The security situation along the contact line between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists is "worrying". That is why it is important that everything possible is done, on the basis of the Minsk agreements, to achieve progress - "even if this is proving to be extremely difficult," continued Angela Merkel.

Stability only possible through the Normandy format

The Chancellor reported that she agrees with Petro Poroshenko that peace, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and a stable political situation can only be achieved with France through Normandy format negotiations. This is the right way forward, Angela Merkel reasserted "even if the way is difficult".

Normandy format
The German government has been working with President Poroshenko for over two years to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. With President Petro Poroshenko, French President François Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Chancellor negotiated the Minsk agreements on 12 February 2015. In this "Normandy format" – also known as "N4" in a reference to the first meeting of this sort on 6 June 2014 – negotiations have since been ongoing at a number of different levels. They focus on the practical implementation of the package of measures adopted in Minsk, first and foremost a ceasefire, the withdrawal of troops, and political reforms. At the most recent leaders’ meeting on 19 October in Berlin a concrete roadmap was adopted.

Chancellor praises economic reforms

"Today we will, of course, also be discussing the economic situation in Ukraine," said Angela Merkel. She specifically praised the reform policies pursued by Ukraine’s leaders in this difficult situation. Ukraine is mastering an "arduous IMF programme" and has so far "achieved all milestones". Germany supports the ongoing economic reform throughout Ukraine and is providing advisory services.

Both the Chancellor and Petro Poroshenko pointed to improved economic figures "following a very difficult period with radical reforms". A total of 1,200 businesses with German stakeholders are now operating in Ukraine. And a German Chamber of Commerce has been established in Ukraine, reported Angela Merkel. "Our exports to Ukraine rose by almost 17 per cent in the first nine months of 2016. "

Talks with Sigmar Gabriel and Norbert Lammert

Following their meeting at the Federal Chancellery, Angela Merkel and Petro Poroshenko visited Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz. A Ukrainian citizen was one of the people killed in the terrorist attack on the Christmas market there on 19 December 2016.

In the afternoon Petro Poroshenko met with Germany’s new Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel at the Federal Foreign Office. In the morning the visitor from Ukraine met with Bundestag President Norbert Lammert at the German Bundestag.