Germany pledges $4b in aid as Zelensky makes surprise visits to Berlin, Paris and London

London: France and Germany have declared they will support Ukraine for as long as needed during surprise trips made by Volodymyr Zelensky to Paris and Berlin on Sunday. On Monday, he hopes to secure more help from London.

Zelensky heaped praise on Germany as a true friend and reliable ally after Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the country would almost double its military aid for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion to €2.7 billion ($4.4 billion).

Scholz on Sunday hosted the Ukrainian president in Berlin for his first visit to Germany since the start of the war. By evening, Zelensky was in Paris for dinner at the Elysee Palace with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who pledged further aid, including light tanks, armoured vehicles and training for soldiers to help Ukraine repel Russian forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday.Credit: AP

In a statement, France described its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as “unwavering” and promised that its political, economic, humanitarian and military aid would continue “for as long as necessary”.

In a tweet on his arrival in Paris, Zelensky said: “With each visit, Ukraine’s defence and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing”.

On Monday morning he landed in London to meet Rishi Sunak at Chequers, the British prime minister’s country residence. It is the first world leader Sunak has hosted at the prestigious estate.

Number 10 said Britain would pledge further military aid after it became the first country last week to commit long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.

These included hundreds of air defence missiles and long-range attack drones – the latter would have a range of over 200 kilometres and be delivered over the coming months, according to a statement from Downing Street.

Zelensky hoped to improve Ukraine’s capabilities both on the ground and in the air.

“I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations,” he tweeted.

Zelensky was due to address the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark on Monday, seeking European support for his “coalition of fighter jets” – a concept to which no European capital has so far committed.

The visits marked a major turning point for Europe and for Kyiv with Scholz making good on his Zeitenwende speech delivered in the days after the Russian invasion, which promised a turnaround in Germany’s post-war pacifist culture.

Scholz has been criticised for making slow progress on his commitment as the outbreak of war on the continent exposed the enormous dependency Europe’s largest economy has on Russian gas and caused international humiliation when it initially only offered to send Ukraine helmets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Germany on Sunday where he accepted the International Charlemagne Prize, awarded to him and the people of Ukraine.Credit: AP

This has played into Berlin’s testy relationship with Kyiv and was behind the public pressure from NATO allies, including Britain and the United States, for Germany to increase its support for Ukraine.

But in a show of the improved ties, Scholz and Zelensky referred to each other as “Dear Volodymyr” and “Dear Olaf” during their joint news conference in Berlin on Sunday following Germany’s announcement.

Scholz said Germany would support Ukraine for as long as necessary, but did not comment on Zelensky’s renewed plea for his country to join NATO, which Germany has traditionally opposed.

Zelensky told Scholz that Germany was the second-largest contributor to Ukraine behind the United States and was saving Ukrainian lives.

“I think we’re going to work on making Germany supporter number one,” Zelensky joked before praising the German leader.

“Chancellor Scholz you have shown leadership ... and you give all of us the opportunity to make the world a safer place.

“The more leadership Germany shows, the better for the world.”

Zelensky, centre, talks to the crowd in Aachen on Sunday.Credit: AP

Germany’s Ministry of Defence said that the further military aid would include 18-wheeled howitzers, artillery ammunition, guided missiles for air defence systems, four IRIS-T SLMInfra Red Imaging System Tail Surface Launched Medium Rangefire units, 12 IRIS-T SLS launch devices, battle and infantry fighting vehicles consisting of 30 Leopard 1 A5 and 20 Marders, more than 100 armoured combat vehicles and 200 drones for reconnaissance operations.

The weapons come ahead of Ukraine’s long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia, which Zelensky has said he still needs more time and the delivery of promised weapons before launching.

Zelensky said that on his tour of European capitals, he was forming a fighter-jet coalition to obtain the air supremacy he has been seeking from allies since Vladimir Putin’s tanks rolled into the country in February last year.

He visited Italy on Saturday, meeting Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, as well as the president.

Before Paris, Zelensky travelled with Scholz to Aachen – the first German city to be liberated by Allied forces from the Nazis during World War II. There he was awarded the 2023 International Charlemagne Prize, which promotes European unification.

“Ukraine incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity,” European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, told those attending the ceremony.

“They are literally fighting for freedom, humanity and peace,” she said.

“They are bleeding and they are laying down their lives to safeguard the future of their children.

“And of ours. President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine know what they are fighting for. And they have understood what Europe and our union is about.

“This is why I am convinced that Ukraine will prevail, it will win peace and make its European destiny come true.”

With AP

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