German Chancellor Scholz arrived in Kyiv and promised billions in aid. He caught the eye with a silver briefcase

The chancellor’s visit is an expression of solidarity with the country, which has been defending itself “heroically against Russia’s merciless war of aggression” for more than 1,000 days.

“Ukraine can rely on Germany. We say what we do. And we do what we say,” Scholz said, adding: “I want to make it clear here on the spot that Germany will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe.”

The visit was not announced in advance for security reasons. Kiev has been the target of drone attacks in recent days.

Scholz and Zelenský visited soldiers wounded in the battles in the hospital. On the Independence Square (Majdan) they honored the memory of the soldiers who fell in defense of the homeland. Then, according to the Ukrainska pravda website, they jointly inspected the drones used in the fight against Russia.

After the United States, Germany is the most important supplier of weapons to Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Germany has sent or promised weapons and military equipment worth around 28 billion euros to Ukraine, according to data from the federal government. The new aid package is also included in this amount.

“Germany is doing more this year than Britain and France combined,” said Scholz about the volume of German aid to Kyiv. Germany will supply Ukraine in December, among other things, with Leopard tanks, IRIS-T air defense systems and drones.

At a joint press conference with Zelensky on Monday, Scholz also stated that Germany will deliver additional air defense systems next year, and stated that his visit to Kyiv testifies to Germany’s unwavering support for Ukraine. “Today, here in Kyiv, I make it very clear to Putin. We have the stamina and will stand by Ukraine as long as necessary,” said the chancellor.

Scholz also promised the Ukrainian president that Russia would not impose its conditions on Ukraine in the event of peace negotiations between the two countries. “Nothing concerning Ukraine will be decided without Ukraine,” said the German Chancellor.

In the Ukrainian capital, according to the newspaper Bild, Scholz caught the eye with a silver briefcase, which he carried himself, regardless of diplomatic protocol. The chancellor replaced the briefcase with it, which “already remembers something”, noted the website of the newspaper.

He packed hygiene supplies and clothes for a change of clothes in his briefcase. However, people on social networks joked that the briefcase contained election flyers promoting Scholz’s Social Democrats ahead of February’s early parliamentary elections, whose favorite according to polls is the opposition conservative CDU/CSU.

Another user then claimed that there could be manuals for programming Taurus long-range missiles, which Ukraine would like to receive from Germany, but which Scholz refuses to provide. There was also interest in the hypothesis that the briefcase contained the 650 million euros that Scholz “brought” to Kyiv.