“During the most difficult period in Ukraine’s modern history, Germany has shown itself to be our true friend and reliable ally, standing resolutely with the Ukrainian people in the struggle to defend freedom and democratic values,” Zelenskyy wrote. The Ukrainian President personally thanked Steinmeier for his support. He wrote: “Thank you, Mr. Federal President, for your personal support of Ukraine and your hospitality.” He also thanked the people of Germany for their “fantastic solidarity”. In German he added: “Thank you, Germany!”
The relationship between Steinmeier and Selenskyj was not easy at first – a visit by the German head of state to Ukraine only worked out at the end of October on the third attempt. In April 2022, Steinmeier had to cancel a joint trip with the presidents of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia at the last minute. At the time, Kiev had signaled to Steinmeier that he was not welcome. For a long time, former SPD Foreign Minister Steinmeier was accused of pro-Russian policies in Ukraine.
Scholz empfing Selenskyj
Following the meeting with Steinmeier, Scholz received the President at the German Chancellery. Zelenskyy put his right hand on his heart and sang along as the Ukrainian national anthem was played. The visit to Germany was prepared with the promise of further military support for Ukraine worth an additional 2.7 billion euros. Among other things, 20 more Marder armored personnel carriers, 30 Leopard 1 tanks and four IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft systems are to be provided by the German defense industry, as the German Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday.
Selenskyj was last in Germany a few days before the start of the war in February 2022 at the Munich Security Conference. For the first ten months after the Russian invasion, he hadn’t left the country at all. He changed that at the end of last year. In the meantime, the Ukrainian President has been to Washington, Warsaw, Paris, London, Brussels, Helsinki and The Hague.
After the war began, Selenskyj accused the German government of being hesitant to deliver arms to Ukraine. At the latest since the promise of Leopard 2 main battle tanks, however, that has subsided. Germany is one of Ukraine’s most important supporters – both militarily and financially. Since the beginning of the war, the federal government has approved arms deliveries worth 2.75 billion euros.
Zelenskyj also in Rome
On Sunday afternoon, Selenskyj and the Ukrainian people are to be honored in Aachen with the Charlemagne Prize for services to European unity. Scholz will hold the laudatory speech. Already on Saturday Selenskyj had an extensive visit program in Italy – from Italy’s top politicians to Pope Francis.
In Rome Zelenskyj met President Sergio Mattarella and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and campaigned for support and for his country’s admission to the EU. “Ukraine’s future is a future of peace and freedom in Europe,” said Meloni, who guaranteed Ukraine full support with arms supplies and humanitarian aid.
Selenskyj in Rom
In the utmost secrecy, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyi began his EU visit in Italy on Saturday with a visit to the Italian government and an audience with the Pope.
Ukraine is a “security outpost of the entire European continent”. She appealed to Moscow to end the aggression and withdraw its troops. After the conversation, Mattarella emphasized that it had to be “real peace and not surrender”. Zelenskyy issued a return invitation to Ukraine so that his interlocutors could see for themselves what Russia had done with its war of aggression.
Audience with Pope Francis
An audience with Pope Francis was also on the agenda on Saturday afternoon. The 40-minute conversation was accompanied by an interpreter. “Thank you for this visit,” the pope said as he greeted Zelenskyy. “It’s a great honor,” the President replied. In a personal conversation, Zelenskyy asked the Pope to condemn Russia’s crimes in the war of aggression against Ukraine. “Victim and aggressor cannot be equated.”
The meeting was eagerly awaited because the Pope repeatedly emphasizes that he wants to seize every opportunity to promote peace in Ukraine. On such occasions, however, he usually does not name the attacker Russia. He had agreed to travel to Kiev several times – but only on the condition that he could then also travel to Moscow. The Pope argued that this was the only way to be a neutral mediator for peace.
It was the Pope personally who spoke of a possible Vatican peace mission between Russia and Ukraine. Something is going on, he surprisingly announced to the public on April 30 in the airspace between Budapest and Rome. At the time, however, he did not want to say more.
Differences between Pope and Selenskyj
In a television interview after the audience with the Pope, Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine does not need mediators. One cannot negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin: “The war is in Ukraine, and the peace plan must be Ukrainian.”
Meanwhile, the Vatican portal Vatican News circulated footage of the Ukrainian President’s meeting with the Pope, showing Zelenskyy sitting down in front of his host and not rising to greet another person while the Pope remained standing. Pictures of the long conversation with the pope, in which detailed speeches were on the table in front of Zelenskyj, showed Pope Francis and his guest in a tense posture.
