Berlin. Ukrainian President Zelensky is coming to the capital tomorrow. What restrictions Berliners have to adapt to.
On Thursday they could already be seen everywhere in the government district, in front of the Chancellery and Bellevue Palace: barriers. The visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky on Friday will be a big one for Berliners restrictions in city traffic and parking bans. Like the US President, Zelenskyj also falls under security level 0 as an enemy of Russia and is therefore particularly at risk from assassinations and attacks. That means: sealed manhole covers, explosives detection dogs, air traffic surveillance, snipers on roofs, water police on the Spree and Havel as well as close strategic security support for the state guest.
Security circles even say that the secrecy surrounding the program in the capital is even stronger than it was with Joe Biden out of fear for the safety of the visitor from Ukraine. “The Berlin police have already started taking extensive security precautions,” it says on the website Traffic Information Center (VIZ). “There can be massive traffic restrictions in the area, especially when arriving and departing Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER)on which City highways A113 and A100 as well as the Berlin city center. There will also be significant traffic restrictions during the state guest’s stay and closures in the area Brandenburg Gate, Bellevue Palace and that Government district to be expected. “Due to the level of danger, more precise information is not yet available,” the VIZ continued. However, road users should avoid the areas mentioned as far as possible and avoid them as far as possible.
Local public transport in Berlin will also be restricted
Barriers were already set up in front of Bellevue Palace on Thursday.
© BM | Dennis Meischen
Because of the state visit, there could also be major restrictions in the entire S-Bahn network. That too Bus and train transport The DB Regio, the ODEG, the NEB and long-distance transport are affected. The head of state of Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia and has been fighting for its survival for over two years, wants to become chancellor on Friday Olaf Scholz (SPD) present his so-called victory plan. A meeting with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is also planned at Bellevue Palace. Further details about the program are not yet known – nor is it how long the Ukrainian president will stay in Berlin.
