- Live Last minute of the war in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky met on Sunday with the German head of state at the beginning of a visit to Germany dedicated, in particular, to the delivery of a huge package of weapons, at a time when his army prepares a counteroffensive.
In the first visit to Germany since the Russian invasion began 15 months ago, Zelenskiy met in Berlin with his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace, and then met with German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz.
The Ukrainian president will travel in the afternoon to Aachen (west) to receive the Charlemagne Prize, which recognizes his commitment to European unification.
The Ukrainian president, who arrived late on Saturday in Germany, had assured on Twitter that his visit will be dedicated to "a very important package" of arms deliveries to his country, as well as the "reconstruction" of Ukraine.
Zelenskiy's tour, which took him to Rome and the Vatican on Saturday, comes amid preparations for a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army and as both Ukraine and Russia claim to be making gains on the front around the city of Bakhmut.
Zelenskiy is trying to mobilize his supporters in Europe while his army prepares that counteroffensive in the east, announced several weeks ago.
On the occasion of his visit, the German government announced on Saturday a new military aid plan to Ukraine worth 2.700 billion euros ($2.900 billion).
"We all wish for a speedy end to this atrocious war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately it is nowhere in sight. That is why Germany will provide all the help it can, as long as it takes," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
The deliveries include dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, surveillance drones and four new Iris-T air defense systems.
- Ukraine
- Germany
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Olaf Scholz
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