Zelensky Arrives Berlin For Arms, Funds Deal

Ukranian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, touched down in Germany early Sunday, the first of such visit since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

He was flown from Rome to Berlin by a Luftwaffe jet after his meeting on Saturday with Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

As he did during his trip to Rome, Zelenskyy twitted his arrival in Berlin early Sunday. 

“Already in Berlin. Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security."

Zelensky is in Germany to source more arms and funds for the prosecution of the war and reconstruction of Ukraine's battered infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, Germany has already announced a new military aid package of over €2.7b, about $3b, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition for Ukraine. This is coming after initial reluctance to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Since then however, Germany took over the role as one of the biggest suppliers of arms to the beleaguered Ukraine with Leopard 1 and 2 battle tanks and the sophisticated IRIS-T SLM air-defense system on the delivery list. 

While in Berlin, Zelenskyy is billed to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, snubbed last year by Kyiv over his previous close ties to Russia.

Along with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Steinmeier has been in Ukraine to assure Zelensky of Germany's support in the fight against Russia. 

Germany's Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, gave vent to the assurance when he said that Berlin will help Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”