German Chancellor Promises Continued Support for Ukraine

The Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, promised in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Germany's unwavering support in the fight against Russian aggression. This was announced by the official representative of the German government, Steffen Hebestreit.

The Chancellor assured that Germany would continue to aid Ukraine, including in the military sector, in close coordination with European and international partners, as reported by AFP. According to Hebestreit, the Federal Chancellor emphasized that Ukraine's future is in the European Union. Therefore, the German government supports accepting the European Commission's proposals to start negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership and will continue to assist Ukraine in implementing necessary reforms.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, informed the Chancellor about the consequences of the latest Russian attacks, including on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure, and expressed gratitude for Germany's winter defense package, which includes 4 IRIS-T SLM air defense systems. This was reported by the Ukrainian leader on his official Telegram channel.

Zelenskyy mentioned that he and Scholz discussed the situation at the front lines, informing him about visits to Kupiansk in the morning, as well as Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa the day before. They also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, the operation of the grain corridor, and the necessary efforts for the further protection of the civilian fleet. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of ensuring unity within the EU regarding the confirmation of Ukraine's membership negotiations and the provision of €50 billion in aid over the coming years.