In close cooperation with the German think-tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne (Libmod), TDC welcomed a delegation of the German Bundestag, led by four MPs representing the entire traffic light coalition, namely Dr. Holger Becker and Dr. Herbert Wollmann from the Social Democratic Party, Katja Adler from the Free Democratic Party, and Kassem Taher Saleh from Alliance 90/The Greens. A number of senior staff members and advisers also took part in this visit.
The program of the three-day-long visit focused on energy efficiency and reconstruction. During meetings with Ukrainian MPs, representatives of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, leading Ukrainian energy NGOs, and SE Guaranteed Buyer, the delegation members had a chance to get a holistic view of today’s situation in Ukrainian energy sector. In this way, they gained perspectives from government officials, state-owned enterprises, and civil society regarding the state and structure of Ukraine’s energy system, challenges it has been facing since the beginning of the full-scale war, sustainable reconstruction, the future of renewable energy, prospects of the nuclear energy usage, the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia in the energy sector, and potential areas for support and cooperation.
The visit’s theme could be traced in a trip to the Kyiv region. Through discussions with local administration, the delegation learned not only about unprecedented war crimes in cities such as Bucha and Irpin during the first weeks of the full-scale invasion but also saw the results of remarkable reconstruction efforts in this region. Particularly, they visited a hospital in Horenka, a village located at a distance of about 20 km from Kyiv, which had been destroyed by 80% by constant Russian shelling. The hospital stands as an example of green recovery under the slogan “Better than before,” utilizing a solar power plant and a heat pump to cover most of its energy supply needs and ensure uninterrupted autonomous operation even during power outages.
As part of the visit, the German delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to discuss the country’s war experiences, recent events on the frontline, gains and losses, and the significant challenges and critical needs at this stage of warfare. Additionally, the Ukrainian side explained Ukraine’s chosen strategy and addressed concerns from Western partners regarding the provision of sophisticated weapons.
The visit’s agenda also included a meeting with the German Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Jäger, who shared his views on the latest events in Ukraine. Among other things, he provided an overview of the current situation at the frontline and in the entire country, with particular attention to recent Russian attacks, estimated the effectiveness of German support, and highlighted Ukraine’s political and economic successes.
One of the most impressive highlights of the trip was a visit to the sites of recent Russian attacks in Kyiv. The delegation had an opportunity to witness the consequences of January 2 attack, which caused damage to a multi-storey residential building in the city center, and the destruction at the Lokomotyv sports complex, occurring just hours before the German guests arrived. The delegation observed the removal of debris and the work of a local investigation team around the facilities of Kyiv’s oldest football club.
As a result of the visit, the German guests gained unique impressions and valuable insights into the real situation in Ukraine and the support that Germany can provide to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. TDC expresses gratitude to Zentrum Liberale Moderne for co-arranging the visit, as well as to German and Ukrainian partners who participated in this event.
