KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 2, (AP): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine for the first time in more than 2 1/2 years Monday just weeks after he was criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for having a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. That call came at a time of widespread speculation about what the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump will mean for Ukraine as the incoming president has promised to end the conflict. In a major shift, Zelenskyy signalled Friday that an an offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control could end "the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine.

Scholz's visit comes ahead of an early German election expected in February. As the campaign gets under way, Scholz has pointed to Germany’s status as Ukraine's second-biggest supplier while also highlighting his "prudence” in working to prevent the war escalating and refusing to deliver Taurus long-range cruise missiles. Scholz said that, in his meeting with Zelenskyy, he will announce further military deliveries this month totaling 650 million euros.

"I would like to make clear here on the ground that Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” he said. Scholz was criticized by Zelenskyy in November for speaking to Putin in what appeared to be the first conversation with the sitting leader of a major Western power in nearly two years. In that call Scholz urged Putin to be open to negotiations with Ukraine but the Russian leader said any peace deal should acknowledge Russia’s territorial gains and security demands, including that Kyiv renounce joining NATO.