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Zelensky and Berlin: Is he coming, or is he not coming?

2023-05-12T13:56:00.885Z

Highlights: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already visited several allies since the Russian attack on his country. He is expected to arrive in Rome on Saturday and will be received there by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis. On Sunday afternoon, he and the Ukrainian people will be honoured in Aachen with the Charlemagne Prize for Services to the Unity of Europe. Germany is one of the most important supporters of Ukraine - both militarily and financially.



The chances of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting Germany are good. © Yves Herman/Pool Reuters/AP/dpa

Washington and Warsaw, Paris, London and Brussels, Helsinki and The Hague: Zelensky has already visited several allies since the Russian attack on his country. Will he also come to Germany?

Berlin - Massive police presence, roadblocks, strictly sealed off Chancellery: The security precautions in Berlin's government district will be higher than ever before when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives one of the most important visitors since taking office 17 months ago this weekend.

However, the emphasis is on the word "if". Even on Friday, it is not yet clear whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will actually come to Germany for the first time since the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Since the Berlin police reported on details of the plans for the visit a week ago, there has been intense speculation about it. The indiscretion has put the visit in jeopardy. This is because Zelensky's trips abroad, of which there have already been a few, are usually kept secret until the last minute for security reasons.

How likely is the visit?

The chances are quite good. On Friday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella's office announced that Zelensky would arrive in Rome on Saturday. He is also expected to be received there by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis. True, the announcement does not yet mean a hundred percent guarantee for a visit to Italy - something can always get in the way of a president who is at war. If it remains with the Italy trip, but hardly anything should stand in the way of a visit to Germany.

Which countries has Zelensky already visited?

Zelensky did not leave his country at all in the first ten months after the Russian invasion. Just before Christmas, he flew to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden. On the way back, he stopped in Poland and met head of state Andrzej Duda. This was followed by visits to London, Paris, Brussels, Warsaw, Helsinki and The Hague.

How does Zelensky travel?

On his previous trips abroad, he traveled on a special train similar to the one Scholz used to travel to Kyiv last June together with French President Emmanuel Macron and then Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi: rustic saloon car, comfortable bedroom. From Kyiv, they first went to southern Poland, from where Zelensky was then usually picked up by military aircraft of the host country. In retrospect, no secret was made of this.

What is the reason for the possible visit to Germany?

Germany is one of the most important supporters of Ukraine - both militarily and financially. Since the beginning of the war, the German government has approved arms deliveries worth 2.75 billion euros - significantly more than some other countries, such as France, which Zelensky has already visited. That would be reason enough to come to Germany. But there is also a specific date to which Zelensky is invited. On Sunday afternoon, he and the Ukrainian people will be honoured in Aachen with the Charlemagne Prize for Services to the Unity of Europe. Chancellor Scholz will give the laudatory speech - even if Zelensky cannot be there himself. Other speakers include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

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What expectations does Zelensky have for a meeting with Scholz?

"From a tactical point of view, of course, it's about weapons, because in order to win the war, you need weapons, weapons and more weapons." For example, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba recently formulated his country's expectations of Germany in an interview with "Bild" - also with a view to the expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Specifically, he named artillery ammunition, primarily for long distances, armored vehicles and anti-aircraft systems. "All of this is available in Germany and Germany has delivered. And Germany can deliver even more," Kuleba said.

Is Scholz ready to deliver more?

In principle, yes. The motto is: Ukraine will be supported as long as it is necessary - including militarily. However, there is no thought of a new quality of weapons. Scholz has so far rejected the delivery of Western-style fighter jets as not sensible.

Will it still be about fighter jets?

May well be. Ukraine hopes for the delivery of American F16 fighter jets. The Bundeswehr does not have this to offer because it flies Tornadoes and Eurofighters instead. Nevertheless, Kiev is counting on Scholz to help convince the US to deliver the fighter jets. "What we expect from Germany is to play an active role in building a coalition of countries: who will convince the United States to press the green button?" said Kuleba. Germany could do a lot here.

What else could Zelensky discuss?

Ukraine's desire to join NATO. Zelensky hopes that NATO will pave the way for this at its summit in July. For Germany and many other NATO partners, however, this is not yet on the agenda.

What is the mood like among the German population?

In the meantime, the war plays a much smaller role in the German public than it did a few months ago. The majority of Germans would like to see negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on a peaceful solution. According to a recent survey conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency, 55 percent are in favor of talks aimed at ending the war. Only 28 percent are against it. Ukraine, on the other hand, is currently categorically ruling out such negotiations, instead demanding a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory - including the Crimean peninsula. Dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-05-12

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