President of Germany Frank Walter Steinmeier promised additional support to Ukraine, especially in the field of air defense, during an unannounced visit to Kyiv today, the first visit by a German president since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Steinmeier originally planned to visit Ukraine in April, but then Kyiv refused to host him due to concerns about his past support for a Western rapprochement with Russia.

“My message to the Ukrainians is: “We not only support you, but we will continue to support Ukraine financially, politically and militarily,” Steinmeier said upon arriving by train in Kyiv. “Now it is important to help protect Ukrainians as much as possible from air attacks,” he added, noting that in recent months Germany has become one of the largest suppliers of air defense systems for Ukraine.

Mr. Steinmeier condemned what he called Russia’s “aggressive cold war” against Ukraine and said he looked forward to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit.

In addition to military support, Steinmeier said his trip will focus on rebuilding damaged infrastructure.

The former Social Democrat foreign minister has expressed regret over his past support for the pipeline. Nord Stream 2a plan designed to double the flow of Russian gas to Germany, but which was canceled after the Russian invasion.

He belongs to a wing of the Social Democratic Party that has long advocated closer ties with Russia as a way to tie it into a Western-oriented world system.

Steinmeier’s arrival in Kyiv coincided with a conference in Berlin on what her hosts thought should be “Marshall Plan” for the restoration of Ukraine;.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Smyhal, who is attending the conference, said yesterday, Monday, that the cost of rebuilding his country is currently estimated at nearly $750 billion.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.