‘Ukraine Can Rely on Germany’: Scholz Pledges Military Aid on Surprise Kyiv Visit

The Ukraine visit came just weeks after the chancellor held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) visit the makeshift memorial paying tribute to Ukrainian and foreign fighters at the Independence Square in Kyiv, on Dec. 2, 2024, Roman Rilipey/AFP via Getty Images

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged on Dec. 2 new military aid for Ukraine during an unannounced visit to Kyiv, as he sought to reaffirm Ukraine of Germany’s support amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The visit marked his first to Kyiv in over two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said their meeting lasted more than two and a half hours.