New German government to deepen Ukraine ties on energy, EU

The new Olaf Scholz government in Germany will push
for stronger ties with Ukraine regarding hydrogen fuel production and renewable
energy, according to the coalition agreement. The agreement also calls for
Germany to continue in efforts to restore Ukraine’s full territorial integrity
and sovereignty, pravda.com.ua reports.

The government’s statement also includes a clause
stating that Germany supports Ukraine’s movement towards membership in the
European Union.

Furthermore, the new government will include Green
Party co-head Annalena Baerbock as Foreign Minister and Roberk Habeck as
vice-chancellor and Economy Minister. Habeck’s portfolio also includes
responsibility for climate policy, reuters.com reported on Nov. 25.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba praised the
coalition statement for its vision regarding both Ukraine and Russia. Relations
with Russia have been downgraded in importance, and the only clause mentioning
the Minsk agreements in the statement calls for both Russia and Ukraine to
implement their full obligations.

James Hydzik: The news is
important for Ukraine, as Baerbock is no friend of Russia. The inclusion of
Habeck for climate policy bodes well for the development of hydrogen fuel ties
between Ukraine and Germany as well.

Given the recent release of diplomatic communications
of Russia with Germany and France, which showed the failure of Russia to pin
Donbas completely on Ukraine, there is reason to hold that the coalition
statement accurately represents how the German government and the bureaucrats
behind it will act for the foreseeable future.