German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine extensive additional military aid from Western partners worth 1.4 billion euros. However, the required Taurus long-range missiles are not included in the package.
Air defense systems, artillery and drones are included, the SPD politician said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin. “Germany remains firmly on the side of Ukraine,” the German Chancellor said.
A new military aid package worth more than 600 million euros has just been delivered to Ukraine. This includes the fifth IRIS-T SLM air defense system, infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, self-propelled howitzers, artillery ammunition and drones.
New delivery by the end of the year
“By the end of the year, with the support of our partners Belgium, Denmark and Norway, we will also deliver a new military aid package worth approximately 1.4 billion euros to Ukraine,” Scholz announced. This includes other air defense systems of the IRIS-T and Skynex types, the Gepard anti-aircraft tank, tank and wheeled howitzers, main battle tanks, protected vehicles, combat drones, radars and artillery ammunition.
The Social Democrat condemned the Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, which were aimed at breaking the will of the population to resist. Zelenskyj landed at the Chancellery in a helicopter early in the afternoon. Zelensky had previously visited London, Paris and Rome and presented his plan for a “just peace”.
Zelenskyj on a major promotional tour
It is the Ukrainian president’s second visit to Germany within five weeks and the third personal conversation with Scholz in this period. Kiev has been pushing for months for the delivery of long-range missiles to attack strategic targets in Russia. Scholz in particular rejects this wish, while other Western partners such as France and Great Britain speak out in favor.
Zelenskyj visited Croatia, France, Great Britain and Italy during his European trip. He actually wanted to participate in a summit on Ukraine with fifty allied countries on Saturday at the American air base in Ramstein, Germany. However, the summit was postponed after US President Joe Biden canceled the meeting due to Hurricane Milton.
Spiritual help from the Pope
The Ukrainian president was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican in the morning for an audience. Zelensky asked Francis for help in securing the release of Ukrainians from Russian captivity.
“We count on the support of the Holy See in the repatriation of the Ukrainians captured by Russia,” Zelensky said in Telegram on Friday. That was the main topic of his 35-minute meeting with the Pope in the Vatican.
The focus of the conversation was on the situation of the conflict and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as well as ways to end the war and achieve a just and stable peace in the country, the Vatican press release said to the public.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
