Zelenskyy urges allies to maintain aid as Scholz pledges weapons package

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Germany, says it is crucial that Ukraine’s aid does not decline after receiving a pledge of a new weapons package from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a tour of Europe intended to gain support for his “victory plan” to end the conflict with Russia.

Zelenskyy thanked Germany on Friday for continuing to support it during Ukraine’s conflict with Russia over the past two years, but he also said: “It is very important for us that this assistance does not decrease next year.”

The Ukrainian leader stated that he would send Scholz a draft of his strategy for winning the conflict with Russia and that he hopes the conflict will end “no later than 2025” by the year.

“This war needs to end, more than anyone else in the world,” Zelenskyy said.

“The war is destroying our country, taking the lives of our people”, he added.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly criticized any peace plan that calls for the surrender of all Ukrainian land to Russian forces as a means of achieving peace.

Alongside Zelenskyy, Scholz announced a 1.4 billion euro ($1.53bn) military aid package for Ukraine by the end of the year.

The aid will be jointly provided with partner countries, including Belgium, Denmark and Norway, and is expected to include air defences, tanks, combat drones and artillery.

“It is a clear message to]Russian President Vladimir] Putin – playing for time will not work. We will not let up in our support for Ukraine”, Scholz said.

The German leader added that he and Zelenskyy had reached a deal on a peace conference that would include Russia, and that international law alone could bring about peace.

“We will not accept a peace dictated by Russia”, Scholz said.

After the United States, Germany has been the largest supporter of military aid in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s trip to Berlin came at a crucial moment, with the US presidential election slated for next month and the possibility of former US president Donald Trump’s victory.

“Just and steady peace”

Zelenskyy and Pope Francis discussed the “incredibly painful” issue of Ukrainians who have been deported to Russia earlier on Friday at the Vatican.

According to the Vatican, Zelenskyy and the Pope had discussions about the conflict, “the humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” and ways to achieve “just and stable peace.”

Francis has repeatedly called for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.