Germany, which is Europe’s largest economy, faced criticism at the start of the war for what some called a hesitant response, but it has become one of Ukraine’s biggest providers of financial and military assistance.
The government announced 2.7 billion euro (US$3 billion) of military aid to Ukraine on Saturday, its biggest such package yet since Russia’s invasion in February last year, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.
The package contained 30 of Germany’s Leopard tanks as well as fighting vehicles, reconnaissance drones and four Iris-T air defence systems seen as crucial to prevent Russian missiles from raining down on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Zelenskiy hailed this as a “powerful package” in a tweet, indicating that he aimed to discuss with German officials weapons supply as well as air defence, reconstruction, Ukraine’s candidacy for membership of the European Union and security.
Berlin’s government district came to a standstill early on Sunday due to tight security around his visit, with some public transport suspended, helicopters whirling overhead and snipers on rooftops.
PAST TENSIONS
Zelenskyy last visited Germany for the Munich Security Council in February last year, just before the war broke out. Germany was constrained in its support for Ukraine at that time both by its energy dependence on Russia and the pacifism that emerged from its bloody 20th-century history.
This required a major policy upheaval and a shift in mindset that Scholz dubbed a “Zeitenwende”, or turn of era, in a landmark speech just days after the war broke out.
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