Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Berlin to take part in the international reconstruction conference for Ukraine. He will open the conference together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In the afternoon, Zelensky plans to personally deliver a speech in the Bundestag for the first time.
This trip is his third visit to Berlin since the Russian invasion began more than two years ago.
According to a report by ZEIT, Zelensky stressed the urgency of finding solutions for the Ukrainian energy sector, as it is suffering greatly from Russian air terror.
Details of the Conference
The conference in Berlin brings together around 2,000 participants from about 60 countries.
It is not a donor conference where money is collected but rather an event for networking actors from politics, business, civil society, and international organizations. The aim is to launch initiatives to promote businesses and train skilled workers.
Development Minister Svenja Schulze emphasized that reconstruction must begin even under war conditions, as people in Ukraine urgently need electricity, water, and shelter.
In honor of Ukraine, the Berlin radio tower was illuminated in the country's colors, blue and yellow.
Zelensky is also planning talks with Scholz about further defense support and the expansion of Ukraine's air defense system.
Meetings with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas are also planned.
Germany is now Ukraine's second most important supporter after the USA. However, Chancellor Scholz has stressed that he does not want to supply Taurus cruise missiles or send NATO soldiers to Ukraine.
