Zelensky to meet German leaders in Berlin despite postponed summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due in Germany on Friday, although a planned Ukraine summit has been postponed after Hurricane Milton prompted US President Joe Biden to remain in the United States.

In Berlin, he is first scheduled to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Talks are expected to focus on continued support for Ukraine in the form of arms deliveries for its defence against Russian invaders, but also on efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war.

Zelensky was due to attend a Ukraine summit with the leaders of 50 allied countries at the US air base in Ramstein in south-western Germany on Saturday, but it was postponed after Biden decided to stay in the US to deal with the effects of the hurricane.

Instead of attending the summit, Zelensky is now coming to Berlin for a bilateral visit on Friday, following talks in London, Paris and Rome.

It is Zelensky's second visit to Germany within five weeks, and the third personal meeting with Scholz during this period.

At the beginning of September, Zelensky took part in a meeting of the defence ministers of NATO allies in Ramstein and met Scholz in Frankfurt. Just three weeks later, the two met again shortly before the UN General Assembly in New York.