Scholz announces new military aid for Ukraine during surprise visit to Kiev

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a surprise visit to Kiev on Monday and pledged that Germany would remain Ukraine's biggest supporter in Europe. During the visit, Scholz promised that Germany would deliver military aid worth 683 million dollars (650 million euros) this month. This is Scholz's second visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion almost three years ago.

The visit comes at a time of uncertainty, with President-elect Donald Trump soon to take over the White House and Russian troops continuing to make territorial gains. Scholz will hold talks in Kiev with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who plans to press again for an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO at a meeting in Brussels this week. The visit also comes at a time when Scholz is facing a difficult election campaign after his coalition collapsed in November and early elections were called in February.

Scholz's support for Ukraine is controversial in Germany. While some are pushing for Germany to provide more aid, there are also voices calling for the country to withdraw from supplying weapons and aid. “Germany will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe,” wrote Scholz on X. At his meeting with Zelensky, he announced that further military aid worth 650 million euros would be delivered before the end of December.