Zelenskyy may come to Germany to receive Charlemagne Prize

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy may visit Aachen, Germany, in May, where he is to receive the Charlemagne Prize.

This was reported by Bild.

The Charlemagne Prize is awarded for contribution to the unification of Europe. This year, it was decided to award the prize to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. The rationale for the decision states that Ukrainians are defending not only their own country, "but also Europe and European values".

The Charlemagne Prize is intended to become a great symbol of friendship between Germany and Ukraine. According to Bild, government sources say that Chancellor Olaf Scholz will deliver a commendatory speech at the award ceremony in Aachen. It is planned that Zelenskyy will come to Aachen in person.

This would be his first visit to Germany since the beginning of the war. However, the planned summer offensive by the Ukrainians may mean that Zelenskyy will not be able to leave the country and will be forced to speak via video link.

The Charlemagne Prize was supposed to be awarded on Ascension Day (May 18). But because Scholz is traveling to the G-7 summit in Japan, the award ceremony will be postponed to the weekend before that date.

Since the start of the war, Zelenskiy has traveled to the United States, Britain, France, and Poland - but not to Germany. Although Germany is now the second largest arms supplier after the United States, relations between the governments in Berlin and Kyiv are difficult, to say the least, the German newspaper notes.

Zelenskyy's team accused the chancellor of indecision and lack of support for a long time. The meeting in Aachen between Scholz and Zelenskyy could open a new chapter of friendship.

Author - Olena Madiak, 10/04/2023