Zelenskyy's visit to Germany: Ukraine and Germany sign agreement on security cooperation. Scholz announces €1.1bn aid package

At a briefing with President Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany would provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth €1.1 billion.

"In total, Germany has allocated €28 billion for military assistance to Ukraine. Today, we are preparing a new aid package for Ukraine, which is 1.1 billion euros," Scholz said.

In particular, the aid package will include 36 armoured and wheeled howitzers from industrial stocks, 120,000 rounds of ammunition, 2 Skynex air defence system, and missiles for IRIS-T.

"Putin has not achieved any of his goals, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have recaptured more than half of the territories occupied by the Russians. The strength of the people's resistance in Ukraine is amazing," Scholz said.

The Chancellor also said that the signing of the agreement on "security guarantees" by Ukraine and Germany was a historic step.

"Today we are taking a historic step. President Zelenskyy and I have signed an agreement on bilateral relations and security guarantees. It is difficult to overestimate this document. It establishes that Germany will continue to support an independent Ukraine that is defending itself against Russian aggression," he assured.

At the briefing, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine "has never had more powerful documents than the one we signed today".

"I am grateful to the United Kingdom for opening this track and to all the countries of the G7 plus. Olaf spoke about more than 20 countries that support us, but we have only Britain and Germany signed the specifics today. I know that we have agreements with other countries, and we are working on the relevant agreements. We will sign them. Of the negotiations we have with other states, with all due respect, I think this is one of the most powerful documents," the President said.

At the same time, he noted that the agreement contains specifics that Ukrainians can count on.

"It seems to me that the most important thing in this agreement is an agreement with specific figures, and the figures are not only money but also years. Also, in case of a return of aggression after the end of this war, there are specific terms when we act together and support Ukraine. These are the specifics that people in Ukraine can count on. These are security guarantees," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy's meeting with Steinmeier

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the press service of the Ukrainian president reports.

Zelenskyy thanked Steinmeier for his visit to the de-occupied settlements of the Chernihiv region and briefed him on the situation at the front and the current needs of Ukraine's defenders in countering Russian aggression.

The parties also stressed the importance of launching joint arms production.

The Presidents paid special attention to the implementation of the Peace Formula.

"They also focused on the further development of municipal and interregional partnerships between Ukraine and Germany, which should be embodied in specific agreements and projects. In particular, the parties agreed on further steps in preparation for the next Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Berlin in June this year," the President's press service stated. 

Spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov previously said that Zelenskyy arrived on a working visit to Germany for the Munich conference and meetings with partners, in a commentary to European Pravda.

"During the visit of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin, Ukraine and Germany signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation, continuing the G7 declaration on 'security guarantees' for Ukraine," the statement said.

It is noted that the details of the agreement will be made public after Zelenskyy's briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. (Berlin time).

Later, Scholz commented on the signing of the agreement and called it a "historic step": "Volodymyr Zelenskyy and I signed an agreement today on our long-term security commitments. A historic step".

First, the president wrote about his arrival on Telegram.

"Two important days are ahead. A new security architecture for Ukraine, new opportunities. We are doing everything to end the war as soon as possible on fair Ukrainian terms and ensure a lasting peace," the president said.

According to him, he plans to meet with partners in Germany and France, as well as take part in the Munich Security Conference.

Later, the President's Office reported that Zelenskyy had begun talks with Olaf Scholz.

"The leaders plan to discuss further support for Ukraine in the defense, political and financial spheres. Following the talks, it is planned to sign an agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Germany," the statement said.

What is known about the visit 

Earlier, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that on Friday, February 16, Zelenskyy would visit Germany and France and hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Macron.

On February 17, the Ukrainian president will speak on the main stage of the Munich Security Conference and hold a series of bilateral meetings.

Later, L'Express, citing the French presidency, reports that French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelenskyy will sign a security agreement between the two countries at the Elysee Palace.