Ukraine President Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Scholz
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy made his expected visit to Germany after his visit to Italy. Zelenskyy paid his first visit to Germany for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid his first visit to Germany since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After Italy, Zelenskyy visited Berlin and met with German Chancellor Olaf Sholz.
Prior to the visit, which took place under tight security, Germany announced a 2.7 billion euro military aid package for Ukraine, including tanks, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition.
''I thank Germany for the largest military aid package since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory. Germany is a reliable ally! Together we are bringing peace closer!'' Zelenskyy tweeted Sunday, in an apparent reference to the key priorities of his trip.
I thank Germany for the largest military aid package since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2023
German air defense systems, artillery, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory.
Germany is a reliable ally!…
Initially hesitant to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, Germany has become one of the largest suppliers of arms to Ukraine, including Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks and the advanced IRIS-T SLM air defense system, the Star Tribune reported.
ZELENSKYY MET WITH SHOLZ
German Prime Minister Olaf Sholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Germany capital Berlin..
Scholz and Zelenskyy held a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting.
Scholz stated that they will support Ukraine until the end and emphasized that Ukraine is ready for peace, but it is clear that there can be no peace dictated by Russia.
Recalling the 2.7 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine announced yesterday by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Scholz announced that Germany's support to Ukraine has now reached 17 billion euros.
Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its assistance and for opening its doors to nearly one million Ukrainians who fled to Germany due to the Russian invasion.
FIRST MET WITH GERMAN PRESIDENT
Zelenksyy met for the first time with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose close ties with Russia in previous years had led to a cooling of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany.
Since then, both Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited Ukraine and pledged to support Zelenskyy in his country's fight against Russian occupation. Announcing the new arms package, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin would help Ukraine "for as long as it takes".
After finishing talks with senior officials, Zelenskyy is expected to fly to the western city of Aachen to receive the International Charlemagne Prize.
Organizers say the award recognizes that their resistance to Russia's invasion defends "not only the sovereignty of their country and the lives of their citizens, but also Europe and European values."
Source: Star Tribune
