German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Kyiv on Monday for an unannounced visit, marking his first trip to Ukraine since the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The Chancellor’s visit comes at a crucial time as Ukraine continues to rely heavily on European support in its fight against Russian aggression.
Scholz, who disembarked from a train at Kyiv’s central station early in the morning, was seen smiling and holding a metal briefcase. Later, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he is expected to announce a military aid package worth €650 million (£540 million) to be delivered in December. “Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” Scholz wrote on social media platform X.
This visit aims to reaffirm Germany’s commitment to Ukraine, especially following criticism of Scholz’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Critics, including Zelenskyy, voiced concerns that the call could weaken international resolve and offer Russia an opportunity to ease its isolation.
Scholz’s visit also comes amid political uncertainty in Germany, with the Chancellor facing re-election in February after a recent coalition collapse. The German leader has faced mixed reactions at home regarding his stance on sending weapons to Ukraine, including calls to provide long-range Taurus missiles.
While Scholz emphasizes continued European support for Ukraine, Putin’s demands for territorial adjustments and security guarantees remain major obstacles to peace talks. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has indicated a willingness to discuss freezing the conflict, provided Ukraine receives security assurances, including NATO membership.
