Under pressure, Zelensky tries to mobilize his allies in Germany

Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Germany on Friday, where Ukraine's allies are meeting to discuss military aid to at a time when the Ukrainian army is retreating in the east of the country under pressure from Russia.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Ukrainian president will meet Friday in Frankfurt (west) for “a one-on-one meeting”, a German government spokesman told AFP, without giving further details.

According to information from the weekly Der Spiegel – not officially confirmed -, the Ukrainian head of state must also attend a meeting of the “contact group” of Ukraine's allies at Ramstein, a US air base not far from Frankfurt, to request additional weapons.

The presence of the Ukrainian head of state aims to underline “the gravity of the situation”, according to the magazine, while very deadly bombings have shaken the country, such as the recent one on a military institute in Poltava, in the center, which left at least 55 dead.

The major Ukrainian offensive that began in early August on Russian territory, in the Kursk region, has not helped to stop Moscow's advance in the East.

On Thursday, the Kremlin strongman reaffirmed that his “number one priority” was to conquer the entire Donbass, where his army is advancing.

– “Focus on air defense” –

Since the start of the war two and a half years ago, the defense ministers of the contact group have met regularly in Ramstein to discuss with military representatives joint efforts to best equip Ukraine.

This time, “the focus will be on strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities” as well as dedicated coalitions, “including the Air Force coalition,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said.

Some 50 nations will be represented at the meeting, he added.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to speak at around 0800 GMT and hold a news conference at around 1415 GMT.

Zelensky has long demanded more air defenses and long-range missiles, which the United States and Germany, his main arms suppliers, have been reluctant to provide for fear of an escalation with Moscow.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

He is also demanding that his supporters lift restrictions on the use of weapons delivered against targets deep inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (left) and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, September 4, 2024 in Berlin © AFP – Odd ANDERSEN

His Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has already recently held talks in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Berlin confirmed on Wednesday the delivery of eight Iris-T SLM air defence systems and nine of a related Iris-T SLS model by 2025, in addition to those already supplied.

And London announced on Friday a £162m (€192m) contract for the delivery of 650 short-range multirole lightweight missiles, which can be fired from a variety of land, sea and air platforms.

– Concern –

At the NATO summit in July, the Allies also agreed to transfer US-made F-16 fighters and new air defence systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits a military base in northeastern Germany, where Ukrainian soldiers are training to use Patriot anti-missile missiles, June 11, 2024 © POOL – Jens Büttner

While they regularly reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine, many governments face divided public opinion as the war drags on.

This is the case in Germany, where the far right, long criticized for its ties to the Kremlin, won a historic result on Sunday by winning a regional election in Thuringia, in the east of the country.

Another party, on the far left, also won by preaching in favor of a halt to arms deliveries to Ukraine and peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin.

In its 2025 budget proposal, Germany has already planned a significant reduction in aid to Ukraine, which would go from around eight to around four billion euros.

kyiv is all the more concerned because new large aid packages from the United States, where a return to the helm of Donald Trump is not excluded, seem illusory and because France, which with Berlin makes up the leading duo of the EU, has been embroiled in an internal political crisis for weeks.

All reproduction and representation rights reserved. © (2024) Agence France-Presse