German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced a new military aid package worth 68.5 million US dollars for Ukraine. Arriving in Kiev on Monday (December 2), he pledged that Berlin would maintain its position as Ukraine's biggest European supporter. British news agency Reuters reported this.
Germany will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe, writes Xe Schultz on social media. To Zelensky, he promised to deliver new military equipment within this month.
This is the first time Schultz has visited Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022. The visit comes at a time when his ruling coalition has fractured and is likely to face a bitter election battle in February.
Political unrest in Europe's largest economy and the rapid advance of Russian troops are adding to Ukraine's concerns. Also, if Trump cuts US aid, there is uncertainty about exactly how much aid European allies will be able to maintain for Ukraine.
Shultz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met at an undisclosed location. There they reviewed military drones manufactured by Ukrainian and German companies. Besides, they visited a hospital and talked to the war wounded.
Shultz has repeatedly rejected requests to send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite positioning itself as Ukraine's second-largest arms supplier after the United States. He fears that such a move could bring Germany into direct conflict with Russia.
Meanwhile, Shultz came under fire from Zelensky for having a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin after nearly two years last November.
The new package includes air defense systems, Leopard One tanks and drones, a German defense ministry spokesman said.
Meanwhile, new European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas visited Kiev on their first day of work on Sunday, seen as a show of support.
