Germany's Merz aims to bridge gap in first Trump talks over Ukraine war
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
Next week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make his first visit to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump. He will travel one month after taking office as head of government, informs Bloomberg.
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius confirmed that Merz will visit Washington for a White House meeting on Thursday, May 6.
He added that the talks will focus on Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and trade policy.
US-Germany relations and what Merz can expect
Bloomberg notes that since taking office, Merz has toured Europe to meet allies in France, Poland, Northern European countries, and Ukraine. However, he has not crossed the Atlantic despite promises to improve relations with Trump's administration.
Relations between Washington and Berlin remain tense. Issues range from trade imbalances to support for Kyiv. European leaders worry Trump may abandon efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine and reduce military aid.
Despite delays in arranging the meeting, Merz gets a chance to present his position to Trump. His predecessor, Olaf Scholz, never received a White House invitation after publicly backing former US President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Merz's meeting comes a week after German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul traveled to Washington for talks with his US counterpart Marco Rubio. Wadephul told reporters that during the 45-minute meeting, both sides emphasized their shared stance on Ukraine and trade. Rubio did not participate in the press conference.
After Trump publicly antagonized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during visits to the Oval Office, German officials fear Merz might face similar treatment.
Beyond tensions over Germany's trade surplus with the US, Trump's allies disagree with Berlin's stance toward the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Rubio called efforts to label the Bundestag's second-largest party as far-right "tyranny in disguise." Merz rejected these accusations and urged US politicians not to interfere in Germany's domestic politics.
The Chancellor also suggested the EU might retaliate against American tech companies if the trade conflict escalates. A junior member of Merz's cabinet proposed a 10% tax on US tech firms, just as the White House pushes for authority to retaliate against such levies.
To ease tensions, Merz aimed to show readiness to meet some of Trump's demands. He pledged to increase Germany's defense spending to 5% of the country's GDP in the coming years.
Merz and Zelenskyy's meeting ahead of Trump's visit
On Wednesday, May 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Berlin and met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The German Chancellor's press service announced the visit would focus on Germany's support for Ukraine and efforts to reach a ceasefire.
In a later interview, Zelenskyy said he discussed Taurus missile deliveries to Ukraine with Merz. However, they agreed not to discuss this publicly.
