The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenskyhas arrived in Berlin on his first visit to Germany since the Russian invasion of his country began, as he himself has communicated on social networks. In the German capital, as he has explained, he will address issues related to “weapons” and “reconstruction.”

“Already in Berlin,” Zelensky tweeted upon arriving in the German capital, adding: “Weapons. Solid package. Air defense, reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security.” The truth is that the visit takes place one day after Berlin announced the granting of a new and extensive package of military aid to Ukraine worth more than 2,700 million euros and which will include, among other equipment, air defense systems, armored combat vehicles and artillery.

The German Defense Ministry explained that this package includes 18 wheeled howitzers, artillery ammunition, guided missiles for air defense systems and 4 IRIS-T SLM fire units and 12 IRIS-T SLS launchers. The package also includes additional main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, namely 30 Leopoard 1 A5 and 20 Marder, more than 100 armored fighting vehicles and more than 200 reconnaissance drones.

The Ukrainian president, who has arrived in Berlin from Rome, expected to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholzand the federal president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

This visit also takes place on the same day that the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony is scheduled to take place in the city of Aachen (western Germany), although it is unknown if Zelenski will go there to pick it up. The Board of Trustees of the Charlemagne Prize announced last December that it would grant the award in 2023 to Zelensky and the entire Ukrainian population. The president of the country and the Ukrainians represent “not only the defense of sovereignty as a country of Ukraine, but of the whole of Europe and its values,” according to that institution.