2023-05-13 16:38:22
Volodymyr Zelensky visits Germany on Sunday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Germany on Sunday to meet the leaders of Europe’s largest economy, a government source in Berlin told Agence France-Presse on Saturday.
The program of the visit has not yet been officially announced, but according to leaks in the German media, the Ukrainian head of state is expected to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and German President Frank -Walter Steinmeier.
Mr. Zelensky is also due to be awarded the Charlemagne Prize during the day, a distinction rewarding a particularly striking commitment to understanding in Europe. However, it is not yet certain that he will go to Aachen to receive him in person. This city is located in western Germany near the Belgian border, hundreds of kilometers from Berlin.
“For the first time in its long history, the Charlemagne Prize recognizes with this award that freedom and the fundamental principles of Europe must if necessary be defended by force”said this week the director of the organizing committee, Jürgen Linden, in the German daily daily mirror.
On the eve of Mr. Zelensky’s visit to Germany, Berlin announced a new military aid plan for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros, including the delivery of numerous tanks, armored vehicles and anti-aircraft defense systems. “We all want a quick end to this atrocious war by Russia once morest the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately it is not in sight. That is why Germany will provide all the help it can, for as long as necessary.”Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.
This is, according to the weekly The mirror, the largest arms shipments from Berlin to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andri Melnyk, however, considered them insufficient.
“It’s a shame that most of the promised defense systems are old”regretted the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, on the television channel Welt TV. “It is also disappointing to see that the German government continues to refuse to cross the red lines it has set itself, in particular concerning the delivery of combat aircraft. This taboo must be broken urgently”he added.
1683996821
#Volodymyr #Zelensky #met #Pope #Vatican
