Scholz, Macron, Draghi Show Kyiv Support as War Roils Energy

(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi toured damage caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine in a show of support for Kyiv, just as the Kremlin intensifies an energy crisis by curbing gas supplies to Europe.

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The leaders of the European Union’s largest economies were joined by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, as a representative of the bloc’s east, in the highest-profile delegation to visit Kyiv since Russia invaded the country at the end of February.

Television footage broadcast by German and French channels showed the four leaders standing with grim faces in the streets of the heavily shelled Kyiv suburb of Irpin. Destroyed buildings were visible in the background as they were briefed by local authorities on the impact of attacks on civilians and infrastructure. They also stopped by a car allegedly destroyed by Russian gun fire and saw an exhibition of photos showing the destruction from the war.

The leaders arrive in the midst of an increasingly tense energy situation, after Russia’s state-backed gas company cut supplies to Europe through its largest link to less than half the usual volumes. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck called the move “politically motivated.” The Western allies will also discuss the possibility of advancing Ukraine’s effort to join the European Union.

“Of course the Russian state would not be itself if it simply watched our foreign policy success,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to meet with his counterparts during the visit, said in an address Wednesday night. “Gas pressure on Europe is growing again.”

Russia’s moves to further reduce gas supplies to Europe provides a difficult backdrop for the European leaders as they look to show support for Kyiv while insecurity grows at home, as energy becomes a weapon for President Vladimir Putin to retaliate against sanctions. Benchmark gas futures increased more than 12%, adding to the 44% rise in the previous two sessions.

As Scholz and his counterparts made their way to Kyiv by train, Habeck tried to ease concerns over an energy squeeze and calling on the population to save energy and stick together.

“Forgetting that there’s war in Ukraine and thinking that we can enjoy a normal summer can be treacherous,” Habeck said in a video posted late Wednesday on Twitter. “We need to be alert, we need to remain focused, and above all we can’t allow ourselves to be divided, because that’s Putin’s plan.”

The timing of the visit is a crucial juncture for Ukraine. There has been intense fighting in the country’s east and appeals for more weapons have become increasingly urgent.

The European Commission could provide an important morale boost. The EU’s executive arm is expected to recommend on Friday that Ukraine be granted candidate status, according to people familiar with the plans.

“Ukraine hopes for talks that can advance candidacy-status discussions, this is the main policy priority for Ukraine and best deterrence against Russian aggression,” Ukraine’s Representative to the EU Vsevolod Chentsov said in an interview this week. “Candidacy status for Ukraine is important for our country, but it’s also a guarantee for European Union, in light of reconstruction efforts that will tie us closer.”

A German government spokesman said Scholz, Macron, Draghi and Iohannis had decided to travel to Kyiv to send “a clear signal of European solidarity” to Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian people.

Draghi has fully backed Ukraine’s bid to become part of the EU. Macron, who has insisted that allies continue communication with Putin, has warned against misleading Kyiv in its membership bid.

Scholz and Macron in particular are grappling with the challenge of maintaining unwavering support for the government in Kyiv while formulating a realistic longer-term plan for how to deal with Russia when the war ends.

The German chancellor has had to deal with accusations at home and abroad that Germany, as Europe’s richest economy, is failing to provide enough military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense, a charge that the German leader rejects.

During the tour of Irpin, Macron asked Ukrainian officials about the scale of the destruction and reconstruction perspectives. He praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and spoke of “war crimes” and “massacres.”

Questioned about his call for Russia not to be humiliated, he repeated that France stands by Ukraine and stressed the country needs to be able to resist and win.

“Russians have destroyed schools, nurseries,” Draghi said during the visit to Irpin. “We will build it all again.”

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