Zelenskyi lands in Berlin for Ukraine conference – speech in the Bundestag
Published: Monday, Jun 10th 2024, 23:50
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has landed in Berlin to take part in the international reconstruction conference for his country. He plans to open the conference on Tuesday together with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Talks with Scholz are also planned, Selenskyj announced on Platform X on Monday evening. In the afternoon, the head of state of the country attacked by Russia will also give a speech in the Bundestag. It will be his third visit to Berlin since the Russian invasion began more than two years ago.
"In view of Russia's air terror, urgent solutions for the Ukrainian energy sector will be our top priority," said Selensky. He said he wanted to discuss further defense support, the expansion of Ukrainian air defense and joint weapons production with Scholz. Positions were also to be coordinated ahead of the peace conference planned for June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. Meetings with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas are also planned. Selenskyj also wants to visit a military base where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained.
Around 2,000 representatives from politics, business and international organizations are expected to attend the reconstruction conference. It is not a donor conference to raise money for reconstruction, but rather a networking event for the relevant players.
Selensky had already spoken to MPs in the Bundestag on March 17, 2022, three weeks after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. At the time, he was connected live to the plenary chamber via video and virtually begged the Federal Chancellor for more military support: "Dear Chancellor Scholz, tear down this wall. Give Germany the leadership role it deserves."
Germany is now the second most important supporter of Ukraine after the USA in terms of military and financial aid. However, Chancellor Scholz is still leaving Ukraine's wishes unfulfilled. For example, he does not want to supply Taurus cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers and, unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, is strictly against sending NATO soldiers to Ukraine. Last week, Macron announced his intention to send military trainers to the war zone together with other countries.
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