Includes KRW 251.3 billion to support energy infrastructure
Scholz: “EU partner countries will provide 6 trillion won in support next year”
Zelensky: “I hope the war will end next year at the latest.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a summit meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Germany decided to provide additional support of 1.4 billion euros (about 2.0693 trillion won) to Ukraine.
According to foreign media such as Politico, Newsweek, and Le Monde, Chancellor Scholz said after the summit with President Zelenskyy, who visited the German capital Berlin on the 11th (local time), “Germany is the country in Europe that provides the strongest military support to Ukraine. “I am confident that this will continue to be the case in the future,” he said, revealing the support plan.
In addition to military support for Ukraine, this aid plan also includes funds to restore destroyed Ukrainian infrastructure.
Funding came from a variety of sources, including German federal funds and international fundraising initiatives. Prime Minister Scholz noted that Belgium, Denmark and Norway had helped provide new aid.
The Skynex air defense system developed by Rheinmetall in Germany, the Gephard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun adopted by the German military, wheeled self-propelled howitzers, tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), radar systems, and artillery shells were listed on the support list.
In addition, 170 million euros (approximately 251.3 billion won) worth of support was promised for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to prevent Ukraine from being forced into another dark and cold winter. He added that the following year, EU partner countries promised to provide support worth 4 billion euros (about 5.9123 trillion won).
President Zelenskyy shared his ‘victory plan’ with Chancellor Scholz and persuaded him that Russia should be pressured to participate in peace negotiations through additional military support.
At the same time, he emphasized, “More than anyone else in the world, I hope that this war will end fairly and quickly,” and “I hope that the war will end by next year, 2025, at the latest.”
Meanwhile, President Zelensky is on a tour of Western Europe and is focusing on sharing and persuading people of his victory plan. President Zelenskyy is on a 48-hour tour of the UK, France, Italy, and Germany.
The day before, President Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte in London, then went to Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. Afterwards, he went to Rome and met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Before visiting Berlin, he met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and asked for help in releasing Ukrainians held captive in Russia.
Originally, President Zelenskyy planned to meet with leaders of the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, and other countries at a summit meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on the 12th to present a victory plan.
However, U.S. President Joe Biden, who was scheduled to attend, canceled his trip to Germany as his country suffered significant damage due to Hurricane Milton followed by Hurricane Hulan in the southeastern part of his country. Germany has promised to reschedule the summit, but it remains unclear whether the meeting can be held before the US presidential election next month.
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