Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (d) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in front of the improvised memorial in tribute to Ukrainian and foreign fighters, Independence Square in kyiv, December 2, 2024 (AFP / Roman PILIPEY)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes a surprise visit to kyiv on Monday, reaffirming his support and offering new aid to Ukraine, which views with suspicion its resumption of contact with Vladimir Putin and its idea of pushing the belligerents into negotiation.
This unexpected one-day trip comes at a time when Ukrainian forces are retreating on the front and when the arrival in January of Donald Trump at the White House is raising fears of a cessation of American aid to kyiv.
It also comes a little more than two weeks after a telephone interview between the chancellor and the Russian president – their first since December 2022 -, criticized by the Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky.
MM. Scholz and Zelensky are scheduled to meet and speak to the press on Monday afternoon.
His visit aims to “express” his “solidarity with Ukraine”, according to the chancellery.
On the night before its arrival, Russia launched a new large-scale air attack against Ukraine, using around a hundred drones and leaving one dead and three injured in the town of Ternopil, in western Ukraine. Ukraine.
Scholz's last visit dates back to June 2022, notably in the company of French President Emmanuel Macron, a few months after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Olaf Scholz announced on his arrival in kyiv on Monday additional military aid of 650 million euros, which will be delivered in December.
Ukraine, lacking men and weapons, is in dire need of support, with the Russian army accelerating its advances, particularly in the East.
Since the Russian invasion, Germany has been the second largest supplier of military aid to kyiv, after the United States, and intends to “remain Ukraine's main support in Europe”, according to the German leader.
– “Survival” of Ukraine –
But despite repeated requests from kyiv, the chancellor has tirelessly refused to provide Kiev with longer-range Taurus missiles in order to avoid, he says, an escalation with Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (d) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz familiarize themselves with the latest drone models in kyiv, December 2, 2024 (AFP / Tetiana DZHAFAROVA)
A position which should not change, now that Vladimir Putin threatens to strike Western countries authorizing the use of such missiles, namely the United States and the United Kingdom.
Another point of disagreement between kyiv and Berlin is NATO.
While the Ukrainian president again demanded this weekend an invitation to join NATO “necessary for the survival” of Ukraine, Germany is one of the allies who consider this approach premature.
Volodymyr Zelensky assured Sunday that his country needed more weapons and security guarantees from NATO before possible negotiations with Russia.
The Kremlin said it had no particular “expectations” regarding Scholz's visit to kyiv, but, conversely, once again welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the chancellor and Mr. Putin in mid-November, in Berlin initiative.
– “Satisfaction” du Kremlin –
“I would not say that we have any expectations regarding this visit,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “but we would like to reiterate our satisfaction with the fact that recently there was had a first contact in a long time between the president and the chancellor”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (d) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Independence Square in kyiv, December 2, 2024 (AFP / Roman PILIPEY)
President Zelensky then accused Mr. Scholz of opening a “Pandora's box” by speaking with Mr. Putin, with kyiv fearing that the allies, tired of the conflict and intimidated by Moscow, would ultimately push Ukraine into territorial concessions, granting a military and geopolitical victory for Moscow.
Especially since the uncertainty regarding American support for Ukraine with the return to the White House in January of Donald Trump, has fueled calls to begin negotiations.
At the same time, Moscow and kyiv are intensifying their air attacks, with Ukraine now having the right, since Russia received the alleged support of several thousand North Korean soldiers, to strike in Russia with American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, projectiles with a range of a few hundred kilometers to strike the rear of the Russian army.
The Kremlin launched an experimental hypersonic missile on a Ukrainian city, threatened to strike Europe and the United States, and relaxed the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons. Moscow is also increasing its bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter sets in.
On the Eastern Front, the advances of the Russian army have accelerated to a level unprecedented since the very first weeks of the war.
Domestically in Germany, Olaf Scholz has been a weakened leader since the collapse of his coalition in November.
He is trying to pose as chancellor of peace, advocating a policy of restraint in Ukraine, to try to catch up in the polls against the conservatives, considered more hawkish, before the anticipated legislative elections on February 23.
