Zelensky makes first visit to U.S. military headquarters in Germany, voices optimism about U.S. aid

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first visit Thursday to the U.S. military headquarters in Germany where allied leaders coordinate the delivery of weapons and other aid to the war effort. And in a social media post after he left, he expressed optimism about getting additional American aid, which has been hung up for weeks in congressional gridlock.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the Nordic Summit in Oslo on Wednesday. Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix via Associated Press

“We expect that the U.S. Congress will soon adopt the crucial decision to continue such vital support for Ukraine,” Zelensky said, after meeting for several hours with U.S. military commanders, including Gen. Christopher Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, Gen. Darryl Williams, head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and Lt. Gen. Antonio Aguto Jr., who leads the security assistance coordination.

In a statement, U.S. European Command said they discussed efforts to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and the ongoing training of Ukrainian forces. Training has been taking place in Germany and several other locations in Europe and in the United States. According to the latest numbers, the international coalition has trained about 110,000 Ukrainian forces, including about 18,000 that have been trained by the U.S.

The U.S. base in Wiesbaden, Germany, is the home of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Representatives from some of the 50 nations that provide aid to Ukraine work in an operations center there to hammer out what each country will send and how and when it gets delivered.

According to a U.S. official, Zelensky also spoke to a crowd that gathered for his arrival, and met with Ukrainian and other international troops who work at the coordination center. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of the stop.

In his social media post, Zelensky said he stopped in Wiesbaden after his visit to Norway. “I was once again convinced of the excellent quality of U.S. military aid to Ukraine,” he said. “We critically need it for the victory!”