Germany aims to cut energy ties to Russia forever

STORY: "I would like us to find a strong, convincing answer to your desire for accession, even though there can be no shortcut on the road to full EU membership,” Baerbock said in Kyiv.

Baerbock is the highest-ranking German government official to visit Ukraine since Russia's invasion began on Feb. 24, as both countries sought to mend ties after wrangling over issues such as weapons supplies and the sanctions roll-out.

Germany has thrown its weight behind an embargo on Russian oil and Baerbock said it aimed to cut its imports of Russian energy to zero and forever.