“Thank you Olaf, thank you German people for your support. German aid saves lives in Ukraine. We are grateful to Germany for its contribution to making the world a safer place for world peace.” With these words, the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a crowded office, he wanted to express the Ukrainian government’s sincere satisfaction with Germany’s economic, humanitarian, and now expanded military assistance from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 until today.

“You have the respect and recognition of Germany,” retorted the German chancellor after their long-awaited first four-on-one meeting on German soil. After politico-diplomatic talks behind closed doors, the German chancellor officially announced on Sunday morning a new 2.7 billion euro military aid package for Ukraine, which Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced yesterday. The massive new equipment package includes, among other things, modern Leopard 2 main battle tanks, additional armored Marders, additional Iris-T air defense systems and ammunition. “Russia must be held accountable for the war,” Olaf Soltz repeated, and therefore “we will continue to support Ukraine in every possible way for as long as necessary.” That is why the important German Charlemagne Prize in Aachen this year inevitably belongs to the Ukrainian people, he said characteristically.

“Fighter Alliance”

In addition, after questions from journalists, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the purpose of a series of visits to Europe in recent days is to further pressure the creation of an “alliance of combat aircraft” to support Ukraine in the air. Russia has air superiority, and this is exactly what we want to change, ”he said, answering a related question. Part of the contacts in Germany are also related to this, as he mentioned. However, when the German chancellor was asked if Germany also intended to supply fighter jets to Ukraine, Olaf Scholz replied: “We have already delivered a lot of systems, especially in the field of air defense.”

After persistent questions about a possible Ukrainian attack on Russian territories, Volodymyr Zelensky replied that Ukraine “does not attack Russian territories”, but “legally” liberates its Ukrainian territories under occupation, “based on its internationally recognized borders.” Olaf Soltz limited himself to referring to Zelensky regarding the country’s military “plans”, each time emphasizing the defensive nature of the war in Ukraine and the nature of German military assistance to support Ukrainian defense goals.

Meeting with Steinmeier and the Charlemagne Prize

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s contacts in Berlin began early Sunday morning when he went to the Bellevue presidential palace for breakfast with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Also a long-awaited meeting on German soil, given that last year the German president was called “undesirable” in Ukraine because of his pro-Russian stance in the past.

With a heartfelt message in his guest book, the Ukrainian president wrote in German “Danke Deutschland!” (Thanks, Germany!). “In the most difficult period of modern Ukrainian history, Germany has shown itself to be a true friend and reliable ally. Resolutely stands on the side of the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom and democratic values,” he said in a historic message. “Together we will win and restore peace in Europe.”

In addition to contacts with the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, consultations within the Council of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany are also on the agenda, in the presence of Foreign Minister Analena Berbock, Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Minister of the Interior Nancy Fesser, before the presentation of the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen, where they will go with Olaf Soltz in a military helicopter.

Unprecedented security measures

Meanwhile, security measures in the German capital were unprecedented from yesterday until late Friday evening, while the highest security protocol was activated in the German capital and German airspace, and the center of Berlin was inaccessible.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived shortly after midnight at the military airport of the German capital on a German Air Force (Luftwaffe A319) aircraft, accompanied by two Eurofighter fighter jets, which escorted him through German airspace from a military base in Bavaria to Berlin.

The President of Ukraine has received threats to his life many times, with the latest statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Vladimir Zelensky “should be destroyed as a physical presence.”

Source: DV