new adventures, again, 360 degrees and explore fascinating world heritage sites dw world heritage 360. yeah. now the, this is dw news line from berlin, ukraine's president king solve his 1st visit to germany. since russia's invasion of ukraine's blood appears, the landscape was greeted by the german chancellor with full military honors, along with the promise of a huge new military package. also in the show,

a pivotal election underway in turkey will voters choose a new direction and opposition, kansas can molecule is sterile or extend president's air to on more than 2 decades in power. and the top prize of a neuro vision song contest goes to the sweeter singer laureen with a historic 2nd victory in the world's biggest live music competition. the american evans team. it's good to have you with us ukraine president. let them use the lensky is in berlin. where he's been holding talks with chancellor all of schultz earlier on sundays, a wednesday met with germany's head of state president of friends, elder stein, law air soleski was then welcomed outside the chance. 3,

he expressed his gratitude to germany for its support against the russian and russian. this is the lead keys, 1st visited germany since russia invaded ukraine. the arrived late last night under heavy security. just hours before he arrived, germany announced a new package of military aid. worth more than 2700000000 years and dw will be bringing you live coverage of a press conference by presidents zaleski and chancellor show, which is expected within the hour. but in the meantime, the w political corresponding thomas pharaoh is with me in the studio for some analysis on the landscape, visit to germany. good to see you, thomas. so he was 1st welcomed in berlin by german, present, find father's time 9, but then we saw this very formal, very sort of with lots of pomp and circumstance. this welcome at the chancellor. a

full military honors. what message does this end? expressive basically wants to send the message that german ukraine of putting many differences. many controversies behind the focusing on the let's call them positive aspects of the relationship. despite the fact that germany is one of the countries that has helped ukraine the most, both on economic terms and on military terms. the relationship between both governments, since the will be gone, has been rather rocky. germany has been criticized, but what some can say to is a reluctance when it comes to delivery of military equipment to ukraine. and this visit now is precisely seen as a way in which both governments in which both countries can put those differences aside. the fact that president savanski, for example, was welcome with full military on those in the tons of the rate is indeed a sign of that new period if you will. those military owners i rode leave with us

for germany's biggest, most important guest. in fact, a correspondent on the ground, nino has it was saying that's, that's a visit that's similar to the visit that to these really prime minister would receive with the us presidents. so that gives you just an idea of how significant this is and the kind of message that both german ukraine wants to send with this particular best tolmas. let's talk a bit about the timing of this visit. we know that zelinski stop in berlin followed talks in italy with the government there and also with the pope. and of course, it's probably no coincidence that it comes a day after germany announced a major a package for ukraine. can you tell us a bit more about that? it is definitely no co incidence that this visit comes when germany has announced this very big of a package, very big military package, in fact, as being described as the biggest package yet coming from germany, 2700000000 euros. and germany is indeed signaling with these new deliveries

that has understood the message that has understood the message that it has to help ukraine with those deliveries in a speedy a way than previously was the case that it has to show that supports beyond what's beyond say, yes, we will help ukraine. that was part of the criticism in the past that germany signal that'd wanted to help ukraine, but that help actually came rather slowly for ukrainian interest. so the fact that this military package is coming now, it was announced right before this visit is indeed again, a sign of this relationship, this new phase in the relationship. but it's also important to stress that germany is not necessarily a country that changes very fast. you could maybe call it uh like a slow walking giant, if you will, but it does change, and the fact that it does change in this particular case is kaylee expressed by, by this military packaged germany. before the war,

new claim started was very reluctant to send weapons to any conflict region. and once the war started, tons of restaurants actually expressed in a very significant speech. the word sites and vendors. so change of political era, and one of the main elements in that change of political air rise precisely sending weapons to ukraine, understanding that it's a necessary step to help ukraine and also for europe in values in european interest of germany. not i think alone here. but it is sending a possible message, but we should note that even after, as a chancellor shall talked about this type vendor, it still took quite a long time before germany actually started sending heavy weapons to ukraine. and these heavy weapons are what cube says it needs in order to launch this much anticipated spring offensive that everybody's been talking about for a long time. and we just heard, not long ago from the ukranian president that they still do not have the type of

equipment that they need to really get this offensive under way. so what exactly changed for germany? what made, what made it ready to supply ukraine with these heavier, with the one that i meant to security pressure coming both from ukraine on from some of germany's most important, the allies that want to germany, to be on board and to be on board fast. i think the key word here is the speed in which germany data was, should have done those, those deliveries. germany did signal right from the beginning that it was going to, to help you create in many, many ways. but that was rather slowly for what ukraine actually once and it was met with controversy. it was met with a lot of a difficult, as you may remember that right at the beginning when there was a lot of discussion about what you have any quotes. and that was even a discussion about germany sending 5000 helmets to ukraine when you create actually needed all sorts of kinds of weapons. so germany has been moving slow really. and

that's the thing, something important to understand when you look generally a german foreign policy. germany is a country that may be wants to change, but the con, change as quickly as some of its allies would want to. there's a, it's always accompanied by a big political debate in the country. and germany does a very much aware that when they make these very big changes, they need to have the german population on board. they need to make sure that they also come with a german population and they'll something that they decide, but the voters i've been against. and that's why there was this big debate happening in the country about with a germany showed a shouldn't make those deliveries. and it was a slow process that has moved, however, in the direction that ukraine would like in that direction, that by the way, many of germany's allies would want. and you clearly see this right now with this very big military package. i can imagine that both ukraine on some old japanese allies within the hugh, but also the united states of viewing these deliveries in a very good way. you mentioned the public and how cautious the government has been

to move forward with these controversial deliveries of heavy weaponry to ukraine. we should also mention, of course, in germany's history as the aggressor during world war 2. there is perhaps a very particular psychology within the country. when it comes to military aid in the conflicts don't, can you remind our viewers about that debate? absolutely. it's a debate that plays an important role even now in many of germany's foreign policy decisions before the war and ukraine started, it was germany's policy not to send any kind of weapons to active conflict zones. germany's idea about then was to play a significant role in diplomatic terms in political terms. but it obviously changed with the war in ukraine when it began on when the need begun to also help ukraine militarily on to do so. as you mentioned earlier with heavy weapons, so not necessarily with, with like the weapons but very clearly with heavy funds to make sure that you claim

to defend itself. gemini, is an important producer of weapons. i'm an important manufacturer of weapons and such that's why pressure was also growing from germany's allies, but germany to do much more for germany to actually send those weapons that to ukraine. it wasn't always easy, but it is something that has happened more and more in recent months. i think there's an understanding within the german government that this has to be the case under these conditions. and i also think that sooner or later, there is an idea to maybe have political talks, but that will happen when the war actually in those diplomatic folks, you mentioned already how maybe the german public views. there's anything that is significant because if you look at whether the german public supports the cost of the german government, when it comes to its policies towards ukraine, the german public does seem to be divided. so you see that in recent polls, if you look, however, whether the government public thinks that the german government is correct when

sending weapons to ukraine, there is a majority who think so, but there is also a significant part of government societies were very concerned about this so maybe think it goes to father, maybe things that it's not helping to maybe find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. so you see these 2 sites in germany, the german government is, i'm sure, very much aware of these discussions in the german society within the german public . and that's why when it comes to meant to a political decision, when it comes so many 3 decisions by the german government, they are very much aware of what the german public is. think just a note to our viewers. we're also seeing live pictures as a child 3 where we are waiting a press conference by you creating present of water mirrors, alaska, and transfer all out sholtes. and we will be bringing you that press conference live as soon as it gets under way. that thomas, something else that i wanted to speak with you about in terms of germany's willingness to support or to crane in its war with russia. the war that we should

also remember was started by russian out. russia has been a very important economic partner for germany. how much did germany's extensive economic ties with russia contribute to its reluctance and its hesitancy to really come out and clearly support ukraine in this conflict? not just with money, but with the weapons. one of the biggest change is one of the most significant changes in german foreign policy since the war began. it's germany's reduction of its dependence on russian energy in particular, before the war began, it had been driven the policy to have breaches of communication with russia. that was one of the key foreign policy issues. the say that i'm going to medical it for my german times. that happened by the way that front, by this time my now the german president. but back then german,

4 minutes to had the, the idea that it was possible to make changes by having titles of communication with russia. by forging economic ties for germany's allies, for countries like poland for countries like the united states. that was a wrong way of approaching relations with russia because it meant that germany was essentially becoming dependent in particular, the only economical tubs on energy terms a when the will begun. germany did realize that it had to reduce not dependence that was met. that's dependence was made with criticism from ukraine, from the germany's closest allies as well. that explains, for example, why the beginning of the, of the will ukraine decided to snow a visit by german president find by the stine mind, considering that he had been too close to moscow during his time, was driven far administer. but germany has indeed, since that will be gone, actually very successfully reduce it dependence on russian energy by looking for alternative sources around the well, it has how much it costs it has,

how much it costs for, for germans, we're paying much higher energy bills. it does come with the cost also for the country, but it has happened. so germany has reduced that dependence on a thing that is something that you cranium, that in particular that you create in the lead to recognize of the fact that as a result of the war, germany has, on the one hand, reduced its dependence on russian energy. and on the other hand, increased its support of ukraine both politically and also admitted to attempts. there are some of those, it points out that it will be impossible to completely cut off russia and somehow cooperating with russia on the global stage or even over the long term resuming economic cooperation with russia. so as a germany gives, it's a commitment to support ukraine also for the long term. also, you know, once this war hopefully is over a sooner rather than later to can, to help ukraine rebuild from all the destruction devastation caused by the war with

russia. where do you see germany's relationship with russia in the future? so before actually come to this, we have to understand the will on a short term perspective. and also in the long term perspective, on the short term perspective, what ukrainian president savanski wants is basically more weapons. and also i'm investing teams getting from gemini, with this very big military package. but on the long term, once the war ends, there are certain elements. that's not only ukraine, but many countries that are helping ukraine will have to consider. one is, as you mentioned, rebuilding ukraine. another one is bringing those to justice. we have committed war crimes. that's one of the reasons why presidents savanski not long ago was actually in the hague, in the netherlands. so these are elements that are already important that already playing a role in discussions you had, for example, some time ago, a meeting here of justice ministers from the g 7 that but precisely looking at how to, to carry out these issues. how to look, for example, that persecuting those who have committed.