- A German airforce plane flew Zelenskyy from Rome after meetings with Italian leaders and the pope
- Zelenskyy’s talks in Berlin are to focus on weapons, air defense, reconstruction, EU and NATO
- Berlin has announced a new military aid package for Kyiv
- The visit was kept secret for security reasons
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Scholz-Zelenskyy hold Berlin news conference
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Germany would support his country “for as long as necessary.”
Speaking at a news conference following talks between the pair in Berlin, Scholz said Germany had now committed €17 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“We have close relations that will tie our countries for decades. In the face of [Russian] terror, we are moving closer together,” Scholz added. “We are not only supporting Ukraine in humanitarian ways but also politically, financially and supplying weapons.”
The German leader said Russia must be “made accountable for the crimes it has committed,” describing how Moscow’s forces have murdered and plundered during their nearly 15-month invasion.
Scholz also said he was pleased to be flying with Zelenskyy later Sunday to the western German city of Aachen so the Ukrainian president could receive the Charlemagne Prize which is awarded for efforts towards European integration.
Zelenskyy then thanked Germany for “supporting our nation … for every life that you have saved.”
The Ukrainian leader said Scholz had “shown leadership” that had “given all of us the opportunity to make the world a safer place.”
Welcoming the new €2.7 billion military aid commitment from Germany, Zelenskyy said the package was a “strong pillar of support.”
Zelenskyy said his country wanted the war to end but insisted by it must achieve “a just and fair peace,” adding that Ukraine’s territorial integrity is as important as another nation.
Zelenskyy given military honors at German chancellery
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received full military honors as he arrived at the chancellery in Berlin on Sunday morning.
Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stood in silence as a military band played the Ukrainian and German national anthems before the pair moved inside.
DW’s correspondent Nina Haase said Zelenskyy’s visit was a symbol that the two countries are trying to open a new chapter in relations after Germany was initially hesitant in supporting Ukraine with lethal weapons to counter the Russian invasion.
“You can’t overestimate how important this visit is to the German government,” Haase said from a vantage point outside the chancellery.
“It comes at a time when Ukraine is preparing a massive counteroffensive [against Russian forces] and after Germany announced a big military package. So there are strong signals that Germany does stand strongly behind Ukraine.”
On the eve of Zelenskyy’s visit, Germany pledged a new package of military aid worth more than €2.7 billion ($3 billion).
The package contained 30 of Germany’s Leopard tanks as well as fighting vehicles, reconnaissance drones and four Iris-T air defense systems seen as crucial to stopping Russian missiles from raining down on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
DW’s Political Correspondent Thomas Sparrow said Zelenskyy’s trip would also focus on longer-term goals.
“Many European countries have signaled that they would like Ukraine to be part of European structures or even trans-Atlantic structures like NATO. We may see some sign of support verbally but I don’t expect that to happen in a concrete way just yet. [The visit] is not only about the immediate-term military and economic aid, it’s also about the long 8erm perspective for Ukraine within the European Union framework,” Sparrow said.
Steinmeier welcomes Zelenskyy to Berlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived for talks in Berlin with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Zelenskyy’s motorcade pulled into Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the German head of state, on Sunday morning. Bellevue is located in the capital’s Tiergarten district.
“In the most challenging time in the modern history of Ukraine, Germany [is] proud to be our true friend and reliable ally,” Zelenskyy wrote in the guest book of the German presidency. “Together we will win and bring peace back to Europe.”
It is his first visit to Germany since Russia launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.
Steinmeier visited Kyiv in October,…
Read More: LIVE — Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets Scholz in Berlin – DW – 05/14/2023