President Zelensky’s visit to Europe is timely. The German research institute Kiel Institute warned this Thursday of a possible drop in Western aid to Ukraine. Two reasons for this: the hypothesis that Donald Trump would return to the White House, which “could block future aid plans in Congress”, and the possibility that Berlin would scale back.
“Germany recently announced that it would reduce its budgetary allocation by 50%”, “other European donors could follow”, recalls the institute, predicting “a significant aid deficit” in favor of Ukraine.
According to its projections, military and financial aid would amount to 59 and 54 billion euros respectively in 2025 if Western donors maintained their efforts. Conversely, they would fall by half, to 29 and 27 billion euros, in the second scenario considered.
The Ukrainian president will be received at the Elysée at 3 p.m. by his French counterpart before a meeting with Pope Francis in Rome on Friday, then in Berlin on Friday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In Paris, he will have a “bilateral interview” with Emmanuel Macron. The President of the Republic intends to take the opportunity to “reaffirm France’s determination to continue to provide, over the long term and with all of its partners, unfailing support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” he said. specified the Elysée in a press release.
Seeking support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky begins this Thursday an express European tour of his main allies, starting with the United Kingdom, France and Italy, while an important meeting of kyiv’s military partners is scheduled for Saturday. in Germany has been postponed.