Kiev, 2 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in Kiev for the first time in two and a half years for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The German leader announced further arms deliveries worth €650 million ($684 million) by the end of December for Ukraine's defence against Russia.

"I would like to make it clear here that Germany will remain Ukraine's strongest supporter in Europe," said Scholz, who travelled to the Ukrainian capital by special train.

The visit was not previously announced for security reasons.

Scholz said his trip is a sign of solidarity with a country that has been defending itself "in a heroic manner against Russia's merciless war of aggression" for more than 1,000 days. "Ukraine can rely on Germany. We say what we do. And we do what we say."

Scholz's last visit to the country was in June 2022.

The war in Ukraine began in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion, since when the Kremlin has illegally annexed four areas in the east of the country.

Kiev has been demanding more Western weapons - including long-range missiles from Germany that Scholz has refused to provide - to help push back Russian forces.

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