Keystone-SDA
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October 11, 2024 – 8:30 p.m.
(Keystone-ATS) Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he was aiming for an end to the war in 2025, completing a European tour in Berlin, where he obtained a promise that German aid would not weaken at a time when kyiv is struggling on the eastern front against Russian troops.
This European tour aimed to present its “victory plan” to force Russia to end the war launched in February 2022 by the Kremlin, and demand more weapons to repel Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
“Ukraine wants a rapid end to the war (…) I would like to see this no later than next year, 2025,” he said alongside Olaf Scholz to the press.
“It is very important for us that attendance does not drop next year,” he insisted.
The chancellor, whose government has planned, to the great dismay of kyiv, to halve in 2025, to 4 billion euros, the sum allocated to bilateral military aid intended for Ukraine, wanted to be reassuring.
“Our support for Ukraine will not waver,” he said. The German and European commitment to Ukraine is also a “clear message to Putin: playing for time will not work”.
The search for “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine remains the guideline of our common action”, the Chancellor further underlined, warning however that the allies would “not accept a peace dictated by Russia”.
Mr. Zelensky ended his tour with a final official meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Reconstruction
During his tête-à-tête with Olaf Scholz, the Ukrainian leader was to renew his call on Germany to deliver more weapons, in particular long-range missiles capable of hitting Russian territory in depth.
Despite pressure, including within his coalition with the Greens and the Liberals, the social democrat Olaf Scholz has so far categorically refused to supply Taurus, sophisticated missiles with a range of around 500 km, for fear of an escalation between NATO and the Kremlin, which regularly brandishes the nuclear threat.
Mr. Zelensky’s tour came as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine and as bombing of critical infrastructure increases ahead of winter.
On the night of Thursday to Friday, Russian night strikes killed four people, including a teenage girl, and injured ten others in the coastal region of Odessa (south).
Mr Scholz announced short-term aid of 170 million euros to help repair damaged infrastructure.
After initial stages in London and Paris, where he denied any ongoing discussions on any ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Thursday with the head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni.
Ms. Meloni immediately announced that Italy would host the next conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine on July 10 and 11, 2025.
Previously, Volodymyr Zelensky was received in Paris by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron who assured him that aid from France – which confirmed this week the delivery of Mirage 2000-5 fighter planes in the first half of 2025 – will be continued “in accordance with its commitments”.
On Friday, Mr. Zelensky also met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, from whom he asked for diplomatic support from the Holy See to help repatriate Ukrainians detained by Moscow.
Victory Plan
This tour was also organized less than a month before the American presidential election, the uncertain outcome of which makes kyiv fear for the sustainability of American support.
The consequences of a possible victory for Donald Trump were, however, minimized by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday in London.
“I am absolutely convinced that the United States will be involved, because they understand that it is not only about Ukraine but also about themselves,” he said. declared.
kyiv’s “victory plan” “aims to create favorable conditions for a just end to the war,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine can only negotiate with a strong position.”
This plan must be unveiled during a second peace summit, expected in November, but the date of which has not been confirmed by kyiv.
Mr. Zelensky once again insisted on Thursday on “the need to obtain authorization to strike deep into Russian territory” with long-range weapons supplied in particular by the United Kingdom, one of the most important supporters of his country. .
The leader has been asking allies for months for authorization to use long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia.
