Steinmeier says situation in Ukraine ‘more terrible than we imagine’ after visit to country
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Photo:REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Following his visit to Ukraine, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told German newspaper Tagesschau on Oct. 25 that “every compassionate person wants the fighting in Ukraine to end.”
“It's much more terrible (there) than we imagine in Germany,” the German president said.
There was an air raid during Steinmeier’s visit to Chernihiv Oblast, and he had to go to a bomb shelter, where he had the chance to talk to local residents. According to Steinmeier, he was shocked by people’s stories of the Russian occupation.
“Any peace must be just,” he told Tagesschau.
“That means that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be preserved. (But) we are not at that stage yet,” Steinmeier added.
The German president visited Ukraine on Oct. 25. It was his first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war unleashed on the country by Russia on Feb.24.
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