analysis
In Berlin, the Ukrainian president called for further support for Ukraine – including military support. Chancellor Scholz promised further help. However, one great wish remained unfulfilled.
It is a sober greeting from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Berlin. No hug like in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron the day before. A handshake, a smile from Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
It is now Zelenskyj’s second visit to Berlin within a few weeks, the fourth meeting overall. The relationship with Chancellor Scholz is not free from tensions, even if the two repeatedly sell it as a friendly relationship. A friendship between “dear Olaf” and “dear Volodymyr”. The sense of humor is also quite different in this regard.
Preparing for a Trump victory
During his first visit to Berlin a year ago, Zelensky tried humor. He emphasized that Germany is now the second largest supporter after the USA. “We will work to bring Germany into first place in terms of support,” he said, earning a smile.
But what sounded like a joke towards Scholz is actually a serious concern for Ukraine. What if the USA is no longer the largest supporter after the US elections? A planned meeting with US President Joe Biden had to be canceled this week due to Hurricane Milton in the USA, as was a planned supporter meeting at the US Rammstein base. So now it’s time for Zelenskyj to advertise individually to European states for military support.
No change of heart is expected from Scholz
Zelensky has been touring Europe for days, demanding permission from Western allies to use long-range weapons against targets on Russian territory. In contrast to the USA, Great Britain and France, Germany did not supply such weapons in the first place.
When it comes to the “Taurus” cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers, it is clear that Scholz does not want to provide it because he fears that Germany and NATO could then be drawn into the war. Scholz wants to be the “Peace Chancellor,” protect Germany, and not make any rash, quick decisions. He emphasizes this again and again. A change of heart is not to be expected either.
Financial support for Ukraine
However, Scholz does not greet his friend Zelenskyj completely empty-handed in the afternoon. The Chancellor is promising 170 million euros to quickly repair the worst damage. Further military support worth 1.4 billion euros by the end of the year, including for additional air defense systems, combat drones and ammunition. The package should be delivered by the end of the year together with Belgium, Norway and Denmark.
As early as mid-September it became known that, despite a tight budget, the federal government was still planning to implement additional projects for Ukraine worth 1.4 billion euros. An over-plan expenditure of 400 million euros has already been requested from the Budget Committee and a reallocation in the defense budget. Even if the budget for next year has not yet been approved by parliament, the Chancellor has also promised the Ukrainian president further aid for 2025 amounting to four billion.
The Chancellor’s message should be: Aid and solidarity with Ukraine will not stop in the coming year – even if the Middle East conflict is overshadowing a lot of things.
This was an important sign for the Ukrainian president and his country received attention today. However, questions about this statement were not allowed in the Chancellery in the afternoon, leaving the question open as to how Chancellor Scholz will respond to Zelensky’s demand to make more long-range weapons available in the future.
“We will be able to force peace”
It is also unclear how the Ukrainian president wants to use his “victory plan” against Russia – with what military pressure? With what economic sanctions?
Zelensky originally wanted to present his “victory plan” to President Biden during his planned visit to Germany. He wants to force Russia militarily to enter into peace negotiations and end the war, as far as his plan is known. Now Zelensky is talking to every European ally in private talks and is calling for them to provide him with even more military support.
The need is great, time is short, the harsh winter is just around the corner and the exhaustion is evident. “We will be able to force peace,” says Zelenskyj in the Chancellery. The goal must also be to achieve a just peace, he emphasizes. But how quickly this just peace could come – and above all how much Chancellor Scholz will move, remained open today.