If the aim had been to create confusion, Berlin, Paris and Rome would have achieved this aim.

Because after it was reported over the weekend that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi wanted to travel to Kyiv in June – possibly as early as next Thursday – the capital cities mentioned were very busy on Monday mixed reactions, all of which agreed on one thing: none of the three governments confirmed any travel plans to Kyiv.

That's not surprising.

The federal government, for example, is already making a big secret out of the delivery of small arms to Ukraine because Berlin fears that Russia could otherwise destroy them before they even reach their destination.

Eckhart Lohse

Head of the parliamentary editorial office in Berlin.

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Michael Wiegel

Political correspondent based in Paris.

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Against the background of this, something unusual happened in Berlin on Monday morning.

At the beginning of the usual government press conference, Deputy Government Spokesman Wolfgang Büchner did not even wait until he was asked questions about a trip by the Chancellor.

Rather, he fled to the front and announced right at the beginning of the meeting that he would not say anything on this subject.

He fended off attempts that nevertheless took place.

This does not mean that there is no journey.

However, the government does not want to say anything about possible plans.

Scholz basically wants to go to Ukraine

The Elysée Palace in Paris rejected information on Monday that President Macron was planning a trip with Scholz and Draghi on June 16.

The Elysée Palace had previously denied a corresponding announcement by "Bild am Sonntag".

Options are on the table, nothing has been decided.

Macron will travel to Ukraine “at the right time”, it was only said.

It came when "the visit not only confirms and affirms our support for Ukraine, but also opens up and operationalizes the European perspective."

Macron travels to the French NATO troop base in Romania this Tuesday and then to Moldova to assure President Maja Sandu of France's solidarity.

The Italian newspaper “La Stampa”, on the other hand, saw no reason at the beginning of the week to correct its account that Draghi, Scholz and Macron were traveling to Kyiv on Thursday.

The appointment calendar of the Italian head of government for this week offers just as much space as that of the German chancellor.

All days are full.

Just not Thursday.

A visit this week would not be bad for Macron either.

The second round of parliamentary elections will take place in France on Sunday.

After the first round on Sunday ended as close as possible, Macron can use his own advertising by appearing in Kyiv.

It can be assumed that Scholz basically wants to go to Ukraine.

So far, however, he had said that he would only do this if it was not just a photo session, but if he also had something to bring with him.

In addition to arms deliveries, Ukraine is primarily concerned with obtaining the status of an EU accession candidate.

Since the EU Commission intends to present a recommendation by the end of this week, as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj during a visit to Kyiv at the weekend, it would make sense if Scholz, Macron and Draghi were the three most influential Heads of government of the European Union met with Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital immediately before this date.

Heavy weapons from abroad are of even more immediate importance to Ukraine.

The Rheinmetall company announced at the weekend that the first six Marder armored personnel carriers had been repaired.

It is not clear when they will have arrived in the combat area.

But on a visit to Kyiv, Scholz could correct the picture that Germany and its government are reluctant to deliver heavy weapons.

After all, a secret was revealed by the federal government.

At the request of the Left MP Sevim Dagdelen, the Ministry of Economics announced that Germany had approved the export of armaments worth a little more than 300 million euros from the beginning of the war until June 1st.