Zelensky visits Italy and Germany… All-out diplomatic warfare ahead of counterattack

delivery time2023-05-14 18:17

Meeting with Prime Minister Scholz… In the afternoon, observe the Charolus Great Awards Ceremony

(Brussels = Yonhap News) Correspondent Bitna Jung = On the 14th (local time), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Germany following Italy and devoted all his energy to the last diplomatic battle ahead of the ‘spring counterattack’.

Foreign media outlets such as Associated Press and Euronews reported that President Zelensky attended an official welcome ceremony held in Berlin, Germany, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and received a review of the German military honor guard.

Earlier, he wrote on Twitter a little after midnight that day, “Already arrived in (Germany) Berlin,” and “Arms / large (support) package, air defense, reconstruction, EU and NATO, security.” It seems to have listed the main agenda to be dealt with during the visit to Germany.

Like the previous visit to Italy, this is the first time President Zelensky has visited Germany since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February last year.

Germany was once criticized for being passive in military aid to Ukraine, but now it has become one of the largest supporters among Western countries, including main battle tanks and missile defense systems.

In particular, the day before his visit, he announced additional military aid to Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros (3.94 trillion won), including 50 tanks and armored vehicles and anti-aircraft defense systems.

Foreign media pointed out that this is the largest scale of Germany’s aid package since the outbreak of the war.

President Zelensky visited the Presidential Palace on the first day of his Berlin itinerary to pay a visit to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and said, “At a time when Ukraine is facing the most difficulties in its modern history, Germany has proved to be our true friend and reliable ally. “, he wrote in the guestbook.

After the meeting with Prime Minister Scholz, President Zelensky is expected to move to the city of Aachen to attend the ceremony of the Charles the Great.

Established in 1950, the Carolus the Great is an award given to those who have contributed to the integration of Europe, and President Zelensky was selected as the recipient this year.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will also attend the award ceremony, so there is a possibility that an on-site meeting will be held.

Following his visit to Finland and the Netherlands earlier this month, President Zelensky is busy with a busy diplomatic schedule, visiting Italy the previous day to meet with the Prime Minister and the Pope in turn.

The visit to Germany, which immediately followed, is also an extension of that, and is interpreted as an attempt to secure additional military support and solidarity by visiting major allies in succession ahead of the ‘counterattack’ announced to drive out the Russian army from the country.

Prior to President Zelensky’s visit that day, road traffic was restricted in various parts of Berlin, and security was further strengthened, with ships on the Spree River passing in front of the Prime Minister’s Office banned from sailing, according to dpa news agency.

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