Zelenskyy to visit Berlin and Paris today - Reuters
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Germany and France on Friday, February 16. The visits will be conducted to try to attract important defense aid, as well as to sign bilateral documents on security guarantees, according to Reuters.
The agency notes that Berlin and Paris are likely ready to conclude relevant agreements with Kyiv, following the example of London earlier in January. However, the details of the documents to be signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are still unknown.
According to French officials, the bilateral agreement between Paris and Kyiv, which is expected to be signed at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday evening, included economic and financial elements and was not limited to military issues.
"The logic behind it is support for Ukraine over the long term, in order to make Russian aggression fail," one French official says.
Germany insists on both European and American partners on stricter commitments to military supplies for Kyiv in terms of defense assistance to Ukraine. Earlier, German Chancellor Scholz visited Washington to increase aid for Ukraine's needs.
According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Berlin envisages 3.5 billion euros for the supply of ammunition this year and will supply 3-4 times more in 2024 compared to 2023.
Zelenskyy is also expected to speak at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, February 17. Several bilateral meetings are scheduled on the sidelines, including with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
Rumors about Zelensky's tour of Western European capitals
A few days ago, Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was planning a tour of Western Europe. In particular, he wanted to attend the Munich Security Conference.
Earlier, Tagesspiegel wrote that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would come to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference.
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, refused to confirm such rumors. At the same time, he noted that the organizers were making efforts to ensure Zelenskyy's presence.
Kyiv does not announce visits by the Ukrainian President for security reasons.
Yesterday L'Express wrote that French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would sign a security agreement between the two countries. The document will be signed on Friday, February 16, at the Elysee Palace.
