Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is visiting Berlin and Paris on Friday to sign security agreements with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, officials said.
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President Zelenskiy's visit to the European Union's two largest countries comes as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine enters its third year.
Kiev's military faces an increasingly difficult situation on the eastern front due to ammunition shortages and new Russian attacks.
Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Scholz were scheduled to sign a bilateral security agreement on Friday to “commit to and support the long-term security” of Ukraine, the German government said.
The French presidential palace announced that Mr. Macron and Mr. Zelenskyy were scheduled to sign a security agreement at the Elysée Palace on Friday night.
“This agreement builds on commitments made in the G7 format on the sidelines of the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius in July 2023,” Macron's office said on Thursday.
At the time, NATO leaders had not set a timeline for Ukraine's membership, but the G7 countries pledged to provide long-term security assistance to Ukraine.
“We are exhausted in the long term,” a presidential aide told AFP. “We are determined to win this bet that Russia is making.”
Britain and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement in January, and Kiev is holding talks with other countries.
Such a security agreement could include the provision of modern military equipment and the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
President Zelenskiy's office also announced that President Zelenskiy will address the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, where he will meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Ukrainian leader was also scheduled to meet with the leaders of the Czech Republic, Denmark and the Netherlands.
France has been one of Kiev's top supporters since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Macron said in January that he planned to visit Ukraine in February, but his team did not provide further details.
President Macron urged France's defense industry to switch to “war economy” mode and expand production.
In January, the French president called on European countries to prepare aid to Ukraine in case the United States decided to cut aid.
(AFP)
