German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Ukraine

2024-12-02 18:00:46, Kosova & Bota CNA

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine on Monday for the first time in more than 2 1/2 years, weeks after he was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a phone conversation he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Scholz-Putin conversation took place at a time of much speculation about the impact on Ukraine of the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to end the conflict.

In a major shift, President Zelenskyy signaled on Friday that a NATO membership proposal, for all territory controlled by Kiev, could end the "hot war phase" in Ukraine.

The visit of Mr. Scholz takes place while early elections are expected to take place in Germany in February.

The German chancellor has shown caution regarding the discussions on an accelerated membership of Ukraine in NATO. In recent months, he has emphasized the importance of finding a way to peace, but not by doing injustice to Ukraine.

Chancellor Scholz said that in the meeting with President Zelensky, he will announce additional military aid worth 650 million euros to Ukraine.

"I want to make it clear here on the ground that Germany will continue to be the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe ," he said.

Despite this, the German chancellor was criticized by President Zelensky in November for the conversation he had with President Putin. During the conversation, Mr. Scholz called on Putin to start negotiations with Ukraine, but the Russian leader said that any peace deal must recognize the victories that Russia has secured on the ground as well as its security interests, including Kiev's renunciation of the target for NATO membership./ VOA