Editor's Note: The following is the English-language translation of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's statement following his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Aug. 23 in Kyiv.
Dear Mrs. Federal Chancellor,
I would like to welcome you in Ukraine once again,
I am very glad to continue our intensive dialogue. I once again emphasize that we had more than 20 phone conversations and several meetings in the past two months. It is the most active Ukrainian-German dialogue of all times.
I cannot but note the role of Germany and Mrs. Chancellor in the introduction of the peace process in the Donbas. I would like to emphasize that Mrs. Merkel knows and understands the essence of the problems faced by Ukraine and the entire Europe as nobody else.
Yesterday, convoy with the so-called assistance invaded the territory of Ukraine violating all regulations of the international law. The entire world condemned these actions of Russia. Today, I can inform you that more than 185 trucks have already returned to Russia. We managed to avoid provocations due to our decisive and coordinated efforts.
War is not our choice. It has been brought from outside.
Our choice is peace and peaceful process, implementation of the peace plan of the President of Ukraine in the Donbas.
Notwithstanding the fact that fierce battles with terrorists last in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, we discussed our plans on the restoration of the infrastructure in the Donbas today.
I thanked Mrs. Chancellor for the decisions we discussed today.
One of such decisions is to send 20 most seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen to Germany to receive treatment at the cost of German government.
Another decision concerns the establishment of special fund that will be formed at the donor conference in September – fund of the EU that will provide EUR 500 million for the restoration of the infrastructure of the Donbas.
We all remember the Marshall Plan for the post-war Europe. Today, I can say that it is the beginning of the Merkel Plan for the restoration of the infrastructure in the Donbas. I am very grateful to Mrs. Chancellor for that. Now, we will have a very important meeting with local government representatives of Ukraine including mayors of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kyiv and Lviv. We will discuss the assistance on strengthening of local government, support to the constitutional reform on decentralization which is the future of strengthening of Ukrainian independence and Ukrainian sovereignty. I am confident that these specific things achieved in the course of the given meeting are an important form of assistance to Ukraine in hard times.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Germany demonstrated today that it is our powerful advocate and reliable friend. I would like to express gratitude to you Mrs. Chancellor on behalf of the whole Ukraine. Thank you very much!
