Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , in an interview with Spiegel magazine, described his relationship with Germany as difficult, saying he “constantly has to convince” Chancellor Olaf Scholz to help Ukraine for the good of the Europe.
“I have to push for help for Ukraine and constantly convince him that this help is not for us, but for the Europeans,” Zelenskyyy said. “Our relations with Germany come in waves: ups and downs.”
The President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to Germany for sending IRIS-T air defense systems, which he said saved people’s lives. At the same time, he said, the debate over sending tanks had returned relations to a “difficult phase”.
Even before Berlin’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in late January, Germany was Ukraine’s second largest donor of military equipment after the United States, according to the Kiel Institute for World Economy. .
