Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Berlin today, on his first visit to Germany after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Unprecedented security measures are in place in the German capital, with the protocol being described as “stricter than that applied to visits by US presidents and Israeli leaders”, as the Ukrainian president is considered “one of the most threatened leaders in the world”. .

In fact, the announcement of the visit was made only yesterday afternoon, while the exact program is being announced gradually.

Zelensky arrived in the German capital late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, flying from Rome on a German government plane, escorted into German airspace by Luftwaffe fighter jets.

A few hours earlier, the German Foreign Ministry announced via Twitter that Germany is preparing the largest support package for Ukraine to date.

Early in the morning, Zelensky met with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier today and thanked Germany for its support.

“At the most critical moment in the modern history of Ukraine, Germany is proud to be a true friend and a reliable ally,” the Ukrainian president wrote in the guest book of the German presidency. “Together we will win and bring peace back to Europe. Thank you, Mr. Federal President, for your personal support in Ukraine and for the hospitality. Thank you German people for the amazing solidarity! Thank you Germany!’

He is currently meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and members of the cabinet.

In the afternoon, by military helicopter, Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Solz will go to Aachen, where the president of Ukraine will be honored with the “Charlemagne” award. The chancellor will present him with the award, in the name of the Ukrainian people. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, will speak at the same event.

Germany yesterday announced a new 2.7 billion euro military aid package for Kiev, the biggest so far since Russia invaded Ukraine. At the same time, he pledged to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Zelensky spoke of a “powerful package” in a post on Twitter, in which he hinted that he would discuss with German officials the provision of weapons to his country, including air defense systems, to rebuild Ukraine after the war, as well as for its candidacy to join the EU but also for security issues.