Berlin Security Conference and Selenskyj Visit Cause Traffic Disruption into Wednesday

Berlin faced major disruptions on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning due to two overlapping events: the two-day Berlin Security Conference and an unannounced visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj. The traffic information centre (ViZ) announced that restrictions would remain in place until 2 p.m. on Wednesday around the Waldorf Astoria at Breitscheidplatz, Storkower Straße in Fennpfuhl, and the government quarter in Tiergarten. The U5 subway line temporarily skipped Bundestag station, and waterways as well as Berlin's airspace were also affected. Restrictions extended to the A113 motorway and the area around BER airport, with travellers advised to use public transport.

Selenskyj, who carries one of the highest security classifications, arrived in Berlin on Tuesday. His visit was not announced in advance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) first mentioned it at an IHK economic breakfast that morning, saying, "He will be with me again around midday." Around 12:30 p.m., Berlin police confirmed the two were en route to the Chancellery. Around 3,400 additional officers, drawn from nearly all of Germany, were deployed for the visit.

The Berlin Security Conference itself is held at the Andel's Hotel on Landsberger Allee, with more than 140 speakers taking part. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda opened the first day on Tuesday; Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) opened day two on Wednesday. MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), the conference president, moderates both days.

GdP police union Berlin chief Stefan Weh used the occasion to again call for greater federal financial contributions, arguing that the federal government should help cover the costs of events where "global politics is made in our capital."