German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has admitted that, after his visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, he has found that the situation in the country is «much more terrible» than Germany believes.
Steinmeier has expressed during an interview for the German public television Das Erste his shock for the destruction caused by the Russian offensives on Ukraine, as well as for the testimonies of the residents of Kiev and its surroundings.
«It is shocking to hear the stories we have been told (…) It is much more terrible than we imagine in Germany», said the president, who confirmed that during his visit to the city of Koriukivka he had to take refuge in a bunker after the alarm sounded for a possible air attack.
On the other hand, regarding the possible resolution of the conflict, Steinmeier has recognized that both parties are «far» from reaching a truce that would guarantee the end of hostilities and also the return of Russian troops to the borders recognized before the outbreak of the war in February.
Finally, he urged the German authorities to learn from what happened with Russia and the dependence on its energy resources and, therefore, to pay special attention to policies with China in order to avoid, as far as possible, being subordinated to Beijing.
«It is very important that we talk much more intensively with China’s neighbors (…) Southeast Asia is an area with 700 million inhabitants, where I think we can definitely rebalance the relationship with East Asia.»
