FIRST to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who decorated him for his commitment to European ‘values’, and then to French President Nicolás Sarkosy, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski proposed supporting the efforts of various allies to deliver combat aircraft to repel the Russian invasion .
“President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for the values and obligation that this award embodies,” said the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Aachen, western Germany, where the meeting of the presidents of Germany and Ukraine yesterday.
“And in doing so, they are also fighting for our own freedom and our values. Democracy and the rule of law, freedom of expression and the freedom to create your own destiny,” he added, during the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony, which promotes European unity.
The German head of government, Olaf Scholz, who accompanied the Ukrainian president to this German city, assured for his part that “Ukraine is part of our European family. Russia’s war of aggression has come closer than ever to the European Union and Ukraine “, he insisted.
Both leaders went ahead a few hours in Berlin, where Zelenski thanked the new military aid package announced by the government the day before.
“During the most difficult time in the modern history of Ukraine, Germany took advantage of being our true friend and our reliable ally,” Zelensky wrote in the guest book of the German presidency.
After traveling to Germany and Italy, where he met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis on Saturday, Zelensky left for France yesterday afternoon.
His tour of these European countries coincides with kyiv’s latest preparations to launch a counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine, with a view to recovering the territories occupied after the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
“Trusted Allies”
In Berlin, Zelenski and his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, participated in a meeting with several German ministers, including the head of diplomacy Annalena Baerbock.
The Ukrainian president also met with his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
During the meetings, the Ukrainian president assured that he would not “attack Russian territory” and should have liberated the occupied territories.
He also took the opportunity to ask Scholz to support the delivery of fighter jets, something Germany has so far refused.
Relations between kyiv and Berlin over military aid have long been tense, with Germany criticized for failing to provide enough weapons, though it has intensified its support in recent months.
On the occasion of his visit, Berlin announced on Saturday a new military aid plan for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros [unos 2.900 millones USD]a record number since the start of the conflict, according to the weekly Der Spiegel.
Scholz assured that Berlin would support Ukraine for “as long as it takes”, and indicated that its commitment to kyiv, including weapons, already amounts to 17,000 million euros. [18.400 USD].
Zelensky asked to extend his support to “the coalition of fighter planes” that we are working with various allies./