Zelenskyy visits Berlin, Paris for security agreements

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Berlin and Paris on Friday to finalize security agreements with the two European powerhouses and garner additional backing for Kyiv’s efforts against Russia

As the conflict in Ukraine nears its third year, Zelenskyy will advocate for continued assistance in funding and weaponry at the Munich Security Conference, where leaders such as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will convene. 

Zelenskyy’s diplomatic tour of Europe is crucial as Ukrainian forces face mounting challenges on the eastern front due to ammunition shortages and renewed Russian assaults. 

The sustainability of substantial Western aid, led by the U.S., is uncertain amidst an election year and a stalled $60 billion military aid package in Washington. 

The European Union has acknowledged limitations in fulfilling its pledge to send one million artillery shells by March, committing to only half. 

During engagements with key European players, Germany and France, Zelenskyy aims to secure future security assurances for Ukraine post-conflict. 

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to sign a bilateral security agreement on Friday, emphasizing Ukraine’s enduring security commitments and backing. 

Additionally, the Elysee is slated to sign a security pact with Ukraine on the same day, although specifics remain undisclosed. 

Amidst the Middle East turmoil, plans by G-7 nations to offer enduring security support to Ukraine were discussed at the NATO summit last July, without a set timeline for Ukraine’s potential alliance membership. 

While the primary focus was once on Ukraine, the escalating crisis in the Middle East, particularly Israel’s war on Palestine, demands immediate attention alongside the Ukrainian situation. 

These pressing matters will take center stage at the Munich conference, with notable figures like Israel’s President Issac Herzog, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and Jordan’s King Abdullah II in attendance. 

Discussions at the conference may also feature U.S. and Middle Eastern nations proposing strategies for lasting peace between Israel and Palestine to their European counterparts. 

Efforts are underway to broker a cease-fire and secure hostage releases before Israel considers a full-scale incursion into Gaza’s Rafah, home to over 1.4 million Palestinians. 

Another significant interaction will be between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, offering insights into the current state of relations between the two nations amid tensions over various issues like Taiwan, trade, and human rights. 

Source: Newsroom