Germany Selenskyj comes to Berlin on Friday instead of Biden
Despite the postponement of the major Ukraine Solidarity Summit in Ramstein, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is coming to Germany. According to the German Press Agency, he will meet Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Friday. This was first reported by "Bild".
09.10.2024, 17:13
09.10.2024, 17:14
SDA
Before Selenskyj's visit to Berlin became known, the US command at the Ramstein airbase had announced that the summit meeting of 50 allied states of Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, would be postponed following the cancellation by US President Joe Biden. Selensky had already confirmed his attendance.
Biden canceled visit to Germany due to hurricane
However, Biden then postponed his visit to Germany on Tuesday at short notice due to Hurricane Milton, which is approaching Florida. The US command in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, then announced on Wednesday: "The event on October 12 has been postponed. Announcements about future meetings of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine will follow."
The Contact Group comprises a total of 50 countries that support Ukraine in its defense against Russia by supplying weapons and armaments. It has already met several times in Ramstein at the level of defense ministers. However, the meeting planned for Saturday would have been the first summit at the level of heads of state and government.
Around 20 heads of state and government had announced their attendance
In addition to Biden, around 20 other heads of state and government had announced their attendance. These included French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In the meantime, there had been speculation as to whether the summit could still take place and whether the US President could join in. A meeting at defense minister level had also been considered.
Meeting of defense ministers in October?
It is now clear that such a meeting will not take place for the time being. So far there are no alternative dates for either the Biden visit or the summit. However, a spokesperson for the Federal Minister of Defense said that there is a desire to at least organize a meeting at the level of the defense ministers in October.
Chancellor Scholz (SPD) had already shown understanding for Biden's refusal on RTL on Tuesday. "If such storms were raging in my country, then I would also make this decision."
Four-way meeting with Starmer and Macron also canceled
German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said that a four-way meeting also planned for Saturday, in which Scholz and Biden were to be joined by Macron and Starmer, would not take place either. Biden and Scholz had arranged a telephone call after the postponement of the trip, but this had not yet taken place by early afternoon.
