Olaf Scholz in Ukraine: suitcase instead of leather bag? Speculation about the Chancellor’s baggage

During his first visit to Kiev in two and a half years, Chancellor Olaf Scholz sparked speculation on social media with his luggage. This time, instead of his leather bag, the Chancellor carried a silver Rimowa suitcase.

The briefcase in the suitcase?

While some users joked that the suitcase could contain a thermos flask of coffee and butter sandwiches wrapped in paper, others speculated that Scholz wasn’t bringing anything with him in the suitcase, but rather picking something up. It was also popular to assume that the Chancellor could personally bring the recently announced additional arms deliveries to Ukraine worth 650 million euros in his suitcase.

Also often speculated: The only thing in the suitcase is Scholz’s normally used black briefcase, which has accompanied him everywhere for several decades. The Chancellor himself once wrote about this on the Instagram platform: “I am very attached to this bag. Some of my colleagues or employees think it is worn out. I call it patina. I like the briefcase better every year.”

The solution to the puzzle: “Travel essentials, laundry and whatever you need.”

The clarification followed at the joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A journalist asked Scholz what was in the suitcase. “How exactly do you want to know?” he asked back and then said: “Essentially it’s about travel utensils, laundry and what you need.”