Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, has arrived in Berlin on his first visit to Germany since the Russian invasion of his country began, as he himself communicated on social networks, where he alluded to the fact that in the German capital he will address issues related to with “weapons” and “reconstruction”.
Zelensky, has been received with military honors by the German Chancellor, Olaf Schölzafter already meeting this Sunday morning for about an hour with the German head of state, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After a strong and long handshake between Scholz and Zelenski, both greeted the respective representatives of their two governments before taking a position on the red carpet to listen, firstly, to the Ukrainian anthem, followed by the German one.
Scholz and Zelenski first have a private conversation, followed by another meeting in a small circle before finally appearing before the press.
The Ukrainian president arrived in Berlin from Rome, where he made an official visit this Saturday. “Already in Berlin,” Zelensky tweeted upon arriving in the German capital, adding: “Weapons. Solid package. Air defense, rebuild. EU. NATO. Security.”
Already in Berlin. Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. us. BORN. Security.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 13, 2023
The visit of the Ukrainian president takes place on the same day that The Charlemagne Prize award ceremony is scheduled in the city of Aachen (western Germany), although it is unknown if Zelenski will go there to pick it up.
The Board of Trustees of the Charlemagne Prize announced last December that it would grant the award in 2023 to Zelensky and the entire Ukrainian population.
The president of the country and the Ukrainians represent “not only the defense of sovereignty as a country of Ukraine, but of the whole of Europe and its values”, according to the argument of that institution.
military aid
Zelensky’s trip to Germany comes a day after Berlin announced the granting of a vast new military aid package to Ukraine worth more than €2.7 billion and which will include, among other equipment, air defense systems, armored combat vehicles and artillery.
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The German Defense Ministry explained that this package includes 18 wheeled howitzers, artillery ammunition, guided missiles for air defense systems and 4 IRIS-T SLM fire units and 12 IRIS-T SLS launchers.
The package also includes additional main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, namely 30 Leopoard 1 A5 and 20 Marder, more than 100 armored fighting vehicles and more than 200 reconnaissance drones.