Zelensky praises Germany’s €2.7bn military aid pledge to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Germany as a “true friend and reliable ally” after he announced it would provide €2.7 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine and build an arms factory in the country.

Zelensky’s visit to Germany on Sunday, his first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, marks a significant improvement in bilateral ties after Kiev, at the start of the war, hesitated to support Ukraine over Germany. charged to.

Zelensky met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other officials a day after traveling to Rome to meet Italian leaders and Pope Francis.

Germany, which in January decided to send its Leopard 2 main battle tank to Ukraine, announced on Saturday that it would provide the country with additional arms worth €2.7 billion to Ukraine. According to the German Defense Ministry, Berlin has provided €4.2bn in military aid through 2022.

German heavy weapons maker Rheinmetall announced on Saturday that it would build a factory to repair and service tanks in Ukraine in a joint venture with state-owned defense group Ukroboronprom.

The delivery will include 18 self-propelled howitzers, four IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, 30 older Leopard 1 MBTs and 20 Mardar infantry fighting vehicles, as well as artillery mounts. In a post on Twitter, Zelensky called the deal “the largest military aid package since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion” and said German equipment was “saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory”.

Reflecting improved relations, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany would provide aid for “as long as it takes” to end “the Russian war against the Ukrainian people”. In April last year, Steinmeier canceled a trip to Ukraine after admitting he would not be welcome, although the German president met his Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev in October.

Armin Paperger, Rheinmetall’s chief executive, said on Saturday that the German arms maker would “jointly produce selected Rheinmetall products in Ukraine” with Ukroboronprom.

On Sunday afternoon, Zelensky and Scholz traveled to the western German city of Aachen, where the Ukrainian president and his countrymen will be presented with an award honoring achievements in promoting European integration.

Zelensky’s overnight flight to Berlin came as Russian forces carried out airstrikes on Ternopil, a western city that was home to the electronic music duo Tvorchi, who were representing Ukraine in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the time. Last year won by the Kalash Orchestra of Ukraine, this year’s Eurovision contest was held in Liverpool in the UK instead of Ukraine due to security concerns.

Zelensky arrived in Berlin following a trip to Rome, where he met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said Rome supported Kiev’s own 10-point peace plan.

Italy, which signed a joint declaration with Zelensky supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and the NATO military alliance, has provided nearly €1 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the start of the conflict. Has contributed, including the Samp-T air defense system. “We are betting on the victory of Ukraine,” Meloni said at a press appearance with Zelensky.

Zelensky met with Pope Francis, who was criticized by some Ukrainians for his reluctance to explicitly condemn Russia for its full-scale invasion. Pope Francis told reporters in early May that he was involved in a secret “peace mission” that neither Kiev nor Moscow said they knew anything about.

While Zelensky said he was grateful for the pontiff’s interest in the plight more than 19,000 Ukrainian children Taken to Russia, he also called on Pope Francis to hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan. The International Criminal Court earlier this year announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

“There can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor,” the Ukrainian president said. “I also talked about our peace formula, which is the only effective algorithm for a just peace. I offered to engage in its implementation.

Additional reporting by Giuliana Ricozzi in Rome

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Germany as a “true friend and reliable ally” after he announced it would provide €2.7 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine and build an arms factory in the country.

Zelensky’s visit to Germany on Sunday, his first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, marks a significant improvement in bilateral ties after Kiev, at the start of the war, hesitated to support Ukraine over Germany. charged to.

Zelensky met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other officials a day after traveling to Rome to meet Italian leaders and Pope Francis.

Germany, which in January decided to send its Leopard 2 main battle tank to Ukraine, announced on Saturday that it would provide the country with additional arms worth €2.7 billion to Ukraine. According to the German Defense Ministry, Berlin has provided €4.2bn in military aid through 2022.

German heavy weapons maker Rheinmetall announced on Saturday that it would build a factory to repair and service tanks in Ukraine in a joint venture with state-owned defense group Ukroboronprom.

The delivery will include 18 self-propelled howitzers, four IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, 30 older Leopard 1 MBTs and 20 Mardar infantry fighting vehicles, as well as artillery mounts. In a post on Twitter, Zelensky called the deal “the largest military aid package since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion” and said German equipment was “saving Ukrainian lives and bringing us closer to victory”.

Reflecting improved relations, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany would provide aid for “as long as it takes” to end “the Russian war against the Ukrainian people”. In April last year, Steinmeier canceled a trip to Ukraine after admitting he would not be welcome, although the German president met his Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev in October.

Armin Paperger, Rheinmetall’s chief executive, said on Saturday that the German arms maker would “jointly produce selected Rheinmetall products in Ukraine” with Ukroboronprom.

On Sunday afternoon, Zelensky and Scholz traveled to the western German city of Aachen, where the Ukrainian president and his countrymen will be presented with an award honoring achievements in promoting European integration.

Zelensky’s overnight flight to Berlin came as Russian forces carried out airstrikes on Ternopil, a western city that was home to the electronic music duo Tvorchi, who were representing Ukraine in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the time. Last year won by the Kalash Orchestra of Ukraine, this year’s Eurovision contest was held in Liverpool in the UK instead of Ukraine due to security concerns.

Zelensky arrived in Berlin following a trip to Rome, where he met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said Rome supported Kiev’s own 10-point peace plan.

Italy, which signed a joint declaration with Zelensky supporting Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and the NATO military alliance, has provided nearly €1 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the start of the conflict. Has contributed, including the Samp-T air defense system. “We are betting on the victory of Ukraine,” Meloni said at a press appearance with Zelensky.

Zelensky met with Pope Francis, who was criticized by some Ukrainians for his reluctance to explicitly condemn Russia for its full-scale invasion. Pope Francis told reporters in early May that he was involved in a secret “peace mission” that neither Kiev nor Moscow said they knew anything about.

While Zelensky said he was grateful for the pontiff’s interest in the plight more than 19,000 Ukrainian children Taken to Russia, he also called on Pope Francis to hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan. The International Criminal Court earlier this year announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

“There can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor,” the Ukrainian president said. “I also talked about our peace formula, which is the only effective algorithm for a just peace. I offered to engage in its implementation.

Additional reporting by Giuliana Ricozzi in Rome