Overview

• Olaf Scholz made a surprise visit to Kyiv, his first in over two years, to demonstrate Germany's continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia.
• Germany committed an additional €650 million in military aid, including tanks, drones, missiles, and air defense systems, to be delivered by year-end.
• The visit follows criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Scholz's recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Zelenskyy said undermined efforts to isolate Moscow diplomatically.
• Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's need for NATO security guarantees and long-range weapons before considering diplomatic solutions to retake occupied territories, including Crimea.
• The visit comes as Russian forces continue territorial advances and Ukraine faces uncertainty over potential shifts in U.S. policy with Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency.