Zelenskyy arrives in Germany as Ukraine prepares counter-offensive
The Hindu
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his arrival in Berlin for an official visit Sunday, having flown out of Rome following meetings with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on May 14 for his first visit to Germany since Russia’s invasion, with Berlin offering an emphatic show of support in the form of a new military package worth 2.7 billion euros.
“Already in Berlin,” he wrote on Twitter. “Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security.”
Mr. Zelenskyy’s trip comes as Kyiv is preparing a much-anticipated counter-offensive and follows a day of meetings in Rome with Italian leaders and Pope Francis.
Ukrainian forces have been training a new contingent of forces and stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and hardware that analysts say will be key to reclaiming territory captured by Russia.
Once accused of reticence in supplying military gear to Ukraine, Germany has since become a major contributor in tanks, rockets and anti-missile systems.
Mr. Zelenskyy’s schedule for Germany has not yet been officially confirmed but, according to local media reports, he is expected to meet in the morning with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He may also head to the western German city of Aachen, which this year is awarding him and the Ukrainian people the Charlemagne prize — an honour awarded for efforts to foster European unity.