Zelensky expected in Berlin, Italy announces conference on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leaves Italy on Friday, which has announced holding a conference in July on the reconstruction of his country, and ends in Germany his European tour aimed at obtaining more support in the face of agrave; the Russian invasion.

Mr Zelensky is meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday morning before flying to Berlin. There he will meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government has planned to halve the amount allocated to bilateral military aid to Ukraine in 2025, much to kyiv's dismay.

After initial stops in London and Paris, where he denied any talk of a ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday evening in Rome.

Ms Meloni then announced that Italy would host the next conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine on 10 and 11 July 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, October 10, 2024 in Rome © AFP – Andreas SOLARO

“Ukraine is not alone, and we will be at its side for as long as necessary,” the Prime Minister said.

Italy firmly supports kyiv by sending aid and weapons, while considering that the latter should only be used within Ukrainian territory.

Rome's support aims to “put Ukraine in the best possible conditions to build a basis for negotiating peace, a peace that cannot be a capitulation,” Meloni explained.

– Aid before the winter –

Before Rome, Volodymyr Zelensky was received in Paris by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. As everywhere else, he called for a rapid increase in Western aid. “Before winter, we need your support,” he insisted.

Discussions on joint production of weapons with France were discussed, Volodymyr Zelensky then affirmed on Telegram.

Emmanuel Macron, for his part, assured that France's aid was continuing “in accordance with its commitments.”

Mr Zelensky's European tour comes as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine. It also comes less than a month before the US presidential election, whose uncertain outcome has raised concerns in Kiev about the sustainability of US support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on October 10, 2024 in London © POOL – Kin Cheung

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The consequences of a possible victory by Donald Trump were, however, downplayed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday in London. “Stop worrying about a Trump presidency,” he said.

“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,” the NATO chief added.

– “Victory plan” –

As in Paris and Rome, President Zelensky presented the details of his “victory plan” against Russia to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mark Rutte on Thursday in London, according to a statement from the Ukrainian presidency.

Map of areas controlled by Ukrainian and Russian forces in Ukraine as of October 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. GMT © AFP – Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sophie RAMIS, Cléa SPECIAL

The plan “aims to create the conditions for a just end to the war,” the Ukrainian leader said in the statement. “Ukraine can only negotiate from a strong position.”

The plan is to be unveiled at a second peace summit, expected in November, but the date of which has not been confirmed by kyiv.

Mr. Zelensky 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 his country's most important supporters.

The leader has been demanding authorization for months to use Britain's long-range Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russia.

A Ukrainian AHS Krab howitzer, made in Poland, fires towards Russian positions on September 30, 2024 in the Donetsk region © AFP – Genya SAVILOV

Rutte told reporters that “legally, Ukraine is allowed to use its weapons, if they can target targets in Russia, as long as these targets pose a threat to Ukraine.” But the decision also falls “up to each ally individually,” he added.

The German research institute Kiel Institute warned on Thursday of a possible drop in Western aid to Ukraine in 2025.

The possible return of Donald Trump to the White House “could block future aid plans in Congress,” the institute warns.

According to its projections, military and financial aid would amount to 59 and 54 billion euros respectively in 2025 if Western donors maintained their level of aid. Conversely, they would fall by half, to 29 and 27 billion euros, without new American aid and if European donors aligned themselves with Germany.

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