Berlin, 11th April 2024 – In a recent question-and-answer session in the German Bundestag, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock addressed the ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Reflecting on the past six months since the “horrendous Hamas attack against Israel,” Baerbock expressed her deep concern for the hostages and the “unspeakable suffering of the people in Gaza.” Despite hopes of ending the war and opening up a political horizon, she regretfully acknowledged that “none of that has come to pass.”
However, Baerbock also highlighted the power of foreign policy in these challenging times, particularly the importance of “shuttle diplomacy” and negotiations often taking place behind closed doors. She emphasized that “every bag of flour, every litre of water, every single hostage who is released matters.”
The Foreign Minister stressed the importance of working in close coordination with international partners, including the Americans, the British, the Jordanians, and the Egyptians, to deliver more humanitarian assistance to Gaza and to convince Hamas to “finally lay down their arms.”
Turning her attention to the situation in Ukraine, Baerbock expressed horror at the daily loss of life, particularly in Kharkiv, where people are being “struck down by Russian missiles, by drones.” She criticized the lack of media coverage and discussion about the crisis, while also condemning Putin’s “imperial claims on Ukraine.”
Baerbock urged her audience not to forget the impact of these imperial claims on European neighbours, particularly in the Baltic region, Poland, and northern Europe. She warned that if Putin’s campaign cannot be stopped, he will be standing at the external border of the EU and European NATO.
In conclusion, Baerbock stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine and exploring how to support other partners. She reminded her audience that this support is not just for Ukraine, but also for “our European insurance policy, for our Eastern European neighbours who were there when we needed them at the time of German reunification.”
