The first president of an independent Ukraine has died

“He was a man who was always able to find the wise words and present the masses in a way that all Ukrainians would listen to. Especially in times of crisis, when the future of an entire country depends on it. depends on a person’s intellect” – Reuters news agency quoted President Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, as he pays homage to former President Kravchuk.

Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of independent Ukraine – Photo: AP

Zelensky did not elaborate on the circumstances of Kravchuk’s death, but said he was in poor health and had undergone heart surgery last year.

Former President Kravchuk was the driving force in Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991 and subsequently signed an agreement with the leaders of Russia and Belarus on December 8, 1991. officially declared that the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

As president, Kravchuk agreed to turn over the remaining Soviet nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory to Russian control, in a deal backed by the United States. Ukraine is guaranteed $1 billion in compensation for the disarmament of the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal.

Kravchuk’s term of office lasted until 1994, when he lost his re-election to former President Keonid Kuchma.

Germany reopens its embassy in Kiev

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on May 10 reopened her country’s embassy in Kiev, after being closed for two months due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ms. Baerbock, the first German Cabinet member to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, also pledged that Berlin authorities would further assist Kiev, including with the investigation of war crimes.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (right) and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova chat during a visit to Bucha, a suburb of Kiev – Photo: AP

“We will provide political, financial and support through German staff, in particular at the International Criminal Court,” said Minister Baerbock while visiting the towns of Bucha and Irpin. She also expressed grief over the civilians killed in the fighting and promised that Germany would act as a member of the international community.