German and Dutch Foreign Ministers Visit Ukraine: "Perpetrators Must Be Held Accountable"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the Ukrainian city of Bucha, AP News and others reported on the 10th (local time).

Minister Baerbock is the highest-ranking German official to visit Ukraine since Russia's invasion. Bucha, a city near Kyiv, is where allegations of war crimes involving the massacre of civilians by Russian forces have been raised.

Minister Baerbock met with local residents and said, "Unimaginable and horrific crimes occurred in Bucha," emphasizing, "We must not stop at mourning the victims but hold the perpetrators accountable."

She added, "I heard testimonies that ordinary citizens going to supermarkets were shot and killed, and that women and children were also victims," stating, "We want to contribute to the investigation of these war crimes and crimes against humanity."

Ukrainian authorities announced at the end of last month that the number of people massacred exceeds 1,200. Russia denies the massacre allegations.

Germany recently decided to increase military aid to Ukraine to 2 billion euros (approximately 2.7 trillion won). In response to this war, Germany broke its post-World War II principle of not sending lethal weapons to conflict zones and provided a large amount of weapons to Ukraine.

On the same day, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra also visited Ukraine. Minister Hoekstra visited Irpin, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv, and is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Immediately after visiting Irpin, Minister Hoekstra tweeted, "I witnessed houses and buildings destroyed by bombings and saw how the war has affected the residents living here," adding, "Such acts may go unpunished."

He also explained that the Netherlands has dispatched a forensic team to Ukraine to investigate war crimes and is providing financial support to the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.