Merz, after taking office as Chancellor of Germany, will visit Ukraine first – Welt
Friedrich Merz (Photo: Getty Images)
Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz will make his first foreign visit to Ukraine after taking office, reports Welt.
According to Western media reports, Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was invited to Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in the upcoming Coalition of the Willing summit scheduled for May 9.
“On May 9, we aim to hold a meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ at the level of heads of state and government, with the participation of President Zelenskyy, to establish security guarantees for Ukraine,” Politico quoted Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha as saying.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister made the remarks during a video address to the EU Foreign Affairs Council summit in Luxembourg.
The upcoming gathering in Ukraine is also expected to include the presence of the German chancellor - most likely Friedrich Merz, according to well-informed sources in Berlin and Brussels cited by Politico.
Western media further reported that Merz's possible visit to Ukraine is being planned for early May. Other high-level government leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, are also expected to attend the events in Ukraine.
Merz’s spokesperson declined to comment on the matter when approached by Western journalists.
Merz confirmed readiness to provide Ukraine with Taurus
Friedrich Merz recently confirmed his readiness to approve the delivery of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine - weaponry that Kyiv has long requested from Berlin. However, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly rejected the request.
Merz also sharply condemned a Russian ballistic missile strike on the center of the city of Sumy on April 13, Palm Sunday, calling it a brutal attack.
In addition to pledging support for Taurus deliveries, Germany’s incoming chancellor suggested the missiles could be used against strategic targets such as the Crimean Bridge.
According to earlier reports, Merz could be elected as Germany’s new chancellor as early as May 6. Media outlets say Bundestag President Julia Klöckner is preparing to convene parliament on that date to hold a vote on the new head of government.
