Volodymyr Zelenskyj: President of Ukraine visits Berlin

Despite the postponement of the major Ukraine solidarity summit in Ramstein, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is coming to Germany. According to information from the German Press Agency, he will meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Friday. “Bild” first reported on it.

Before Zelensky’s visit to Berlin became known, the US command at the air base in Ramstein announced that the summit meeting of 50 allied states in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, would be postponed after US President Joe Biden’s cancellation. Zelensky had already confirmed his participation.

Biden then postponed his visit to Germany on Tuesday at short notice because of Hurricane Milton, which is approaching Florida. The US command in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, then announced on Wednesday: “The event on October 12th has been postponed. Announcements about future meetings of the contact group for the defense of Ukraine will follow.”

Ukraine meeting in Ramstein postponed

The contact group includes a total of 50 countries that support Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia by supplying weapons and armaments. It has already met several times in Ramstein at the defense minister level. The meeting planned for Saturday would have been the first summit at the level of heads of state and government.

In addition to Biden, around 20 other heads of state and government had announced their presence. Among others, there were commitments from French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In the meantime there was speculation as to whether the summit would still take place and the US President could join in. A meeting at the level of defense ministers was also considered.

Defense ministers meeting in October?

It is now clear that such a meeting will not take place for the time being. There are currently no alternative dates for Biden’s visit or for the summit. However, a spokesman for the Federal Defense Minister said that there was a desire to hold at least one meeting at defense minister level in October.

Chancellor Scholz (SPD) had already shown understanding for Biden’s rejection on RTL on Tuesday. “If such storms raged in my country, then I would also make this decision.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyj is the only one arriving

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that a four-party meeting also planned for Saturday, in which Scholz and Biden as well as Macron and Starmer were supposed to take part, would not take place. Biden and Scholz had arranged to have a phone call after the trip was postponed, but this had not yet taken place by early afternoon.

Note: This text has been updated several times.