European trio in Kyiv as Ukraine pushes for more weapons
European leaders arrive in Kyiv to salvage relationship with Zelenskyy; Russia 'destroys warehouse full of weapons donated by the West'
Ukraine latest as US defence secretary says war is now at a "pivotal moment" as the two sides battle for the eastern Donbas region; Russia claims to have destroyed an ammunition warehouse for weapons donated by NATO countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have arrived in the Ukrainian capital this morning.
The trip has reportedly taken weeks to put together, with the men looking to overcome criticism over their response to the conflict.
Ukraine has criticised them all in recent months for dragging their feet over weapons deliveries.
All eyes on what Scholz has to offer Ukraine
Olaf Scholz has set himself a tough task.
The German chancellor had, somewhat defensively, said that he wouldn’t visit Ukraine simply for a photo opportunity.
So what will he offer? The Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, long a thorn in Scholz’s side, is clear, telling a German newspaper this morning that Kyiv wants heavy weapons from Germany, in particular Leopard and Marder tanks.
Tanks have become a bit of a dirty word in Berlin. Scholz promised artillery, heavy weaponry to Ukraine, but it's yet to materialise. Germany has sent other military equipment and aid but, when compared to national GDP, its financial contributions pale next to those made by the Baltics and Poland.
Ukraine has accused him of trying to balance support for Kyiv with a desire to maintain a relationship with Russia. It’s a suspicion he’ll need to allay today.
And it’s not just the Ukrainian leadership which will be watching Scholz closely.
Germans too want to know what this leader – who’s earning a reputation as a bit of a ditherer – is all about.
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