Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, arrived in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss strengthening support for Ukraine with Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany. This trip comes as Kyiv seeks to receive more air defense missiles to counter Russian ballistic attacks and support its energy sector ahead of winter. The meeting takes place a week before U.S.-led negotiations with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
Discussion Topics
Military and financial support is expected to be at the center of these discussions. Ukraine needs more missiles for systems like the U.S.-made Patriot. Germany has already sent Patriot systems that it can provide without compromising its own air defense. Zelensky wrote on platform X: "Key topics are our diplomatic coordination — with important meetings ahead — strengthening our air defense and supporting our energy sector."
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Security and Military Impacts
This trip, kept confidential for security reasons, coincides with the opening of the Berlin Security Conference. Ukraine needs more missiles for air defense systems like Patriot. Germany, one of Ukraine's largest military, financial, and humanitarian supporters, has already sent the Patriot systems it can provide. Zelensky informed EU leaders in October that Ukraine needs an additional €70 billion ($78 billion) from European governments next year.
Germany has also planned to hold a meeting of Ukraine's supporting countries in mid-November to discuss further support ahead of winter. Zelensky arrived in Berlin just hours after Russia launched a major nighttime attack on Ukraine using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Reports indicate that at least 73 people were injured in an attack on a hospital in Kharkiv, and 226 patients were transferred to other hospitals.
Berlin police have announced that around 3,400 police officers have been deployed for Zelensky's visit and the security conference. This conference brings together European defense officials and experts, with Russia's war in Ukraine on the agenda. Officers from across Germany are assisting in the operation, and sections of the government area have been cordoned off with armed officers protecting barriers.
Just hours before Zelensky's arrival, Steven Vitkoff, the U.S. Special Representative, announced that advisors from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States will meet on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi to discuss post-war security, de-escalation, and humanitarian aid. U.S. representatives are expected to discuss security guarantees and reconstruction with European and NATO representatives in Brussels this week. Berlin expects European representatives to also be present in Abu Dhabi, although they are unlikely to sit at the negotiating table.
