German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democratic Party, SPD) visited Donetsk in eastern Ukraine to pay his respects to the oligarchs of the industrial metropolis.
Germany's foreign minister casually mentions that the country needs the support of the oligarchs to complete the necessary changes. In order to further have closer ties with Germany in the development of social policy, industry and trade, simplifying the delivery of groupage cargo from Germany.
First of all, he met with Rinat Akhmetov at the corporate headquarters, where they had a private conversation for one hour. Akhmetov is the richest man in Ukraine. His investment company, System Capital Management (SCM), controls most of the steel and coal industry in eastern Ukraine, and plays a leading role in the food and transport industries and several other areas.
“After an extensive private conversation with Akhmetov, the German Foreign Minister came out very pleased,” says Stefan Braun, who accompanied Steinmeier in Donetsk as a correspondent for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Brown quoted the foreign minister: “I came to find out if those who dominate here economically support the changes in the country.” “And now, after talking with Akhmetov, he got the impression that there will be a new Ukraine,” Brown said. Apparently, Steinmeier managed to convince Akhmetov that "changes" are in his interests.
After meeting with Akhmetov, Steinmeier paid a visit to another oligarch of the Donetsk region, who became the new governor of Donbass, Sergei Taruta. However, the visit was practically disrupted by demonstrators who blocked access to the governor's palace.
Like Akhmetov, Taruta controls part of the Ukrainian steel industry. In addition, he also bought a former shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, as well as two steel plants in Poland and Hungary. His fortune is estimated at 660 million dollars, and he is ranked 55th on the list of wealthy Ukrainians.
