Visit to Kyiv: Scholz pledges further arms deliveries

Kyiv (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in the capital Kyiv for his first visit to Ukraine in two and a half years. On arriving after travelling to the country by train, Scholz announced further arms deliveries worth 650 million euros by the end of December. “I want to make it clear here in Ukraine itself that Germany will remain the country’s strongest supporter in Europe,” said Scholz, adding that 

his visit was a sign of solidarity with a country that had defended itself “heroically against the merciless Russian war of aggression” for more than 1,000 days. “Ukraine can rely on Germany. We say what we do - and we do what we say. 
After the USA, Germany is considered Ukraine’s most important supplier of weapons in its defence against Russia. According to Federal Government figures, German weapons and military equipment worth around 28 billion euros have been delivered or promised to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022.  

In Kyiv, Scholz intends to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The visit was not announced in advance for security reasons. Kyiv is currently the target of repeated attacks by Russian drones.