Germany Zelenskyi counts on German support after Trump's election victory

Following the US elections, Ukrainian President Zelenskyi is hoping for increased support from Germany in order to strengthen Ukraine's military and diplomatic position.

In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hope for further support from Germany. The conversation took place after the break-up of the traffic light coalition and the recent US elections, which saw Donald Trump emerge victorious. Selenskyj emphasized the need for additional air defence systems from Germany for the coming year.

Chancellor Scholz assured Ukraine of Germany's continued solidarity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, which has now lasted almost 1,000 days. The German government confirmed that Germany will deliver another Iris-T air defense system by the end of the year. The importance of the Ramstein format, where supporters of Ukraine regularly discuss new military aid, was also emphasized.

Donald Trump's election victory has caused concern in Ukraine and among its European allies. There are fears that the USA could reduce its support for Kiev, which would enable Russia to emerge victorious from the conflict through a unilateral peace settlement. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack on Ukraine in February 2022 in violation of international law.

Selensky emphasized Germany's role as an important partner in the fight against Russian aggression and called for Ukraine to be addressed at the upcoming G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. In his evening video message, he explained that lasting peace and stability in international relations can only be achieved through joint action.

Russian President Putin is sending his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the G20 summit, where he will meet representatives of the USA. Lavrov stated that he does not expect a change of course in US policy towards Russia or Ukraine under Trump's leadership. He emphasized that every US administration would strive to weaken Russia's influence.

During the election campaign, Trump had announced that he wanted to end the Ukraine conflict quickly through a deal with Russia, but without giving any details. Putin congratulated Trump on his election victory and expressed his openness to a dialogue, but emphasized Trump's unpredictability.

Lavrov spoke out against a resumption of the Minsk agreements, which provided for autonomy for the Donbass. These agreements were concluded with the mediation of Germany and France, but were later rejected by Zelensky. Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, allegedly to pre-empt an attack by the Ukrainian military. Lavrov rejected a freeze in the conflict and criticized the Ukrainian leadership for its attitude towards the Donbass.

Geopolitical tensions remain high, while Ukraine continues to rely on international support to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

SDA