Merz arrives in Kyiv: First visit to Ukraine as Chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) arrived in Kyiv by train with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There, the three, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, plan to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to advocate for a complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. They intend to use this window of time for peace negotiations with Russia.

In a statement released during their arrival, they backed US President Donald Trump's call for a complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire. They stated that it would "create space for talks on a just and lasting peace." In the statement, the Europeans made it clear that Ukraine's ceding of territory to Russia was out of the question for them. "Russia must end its illegal war of aggression, and Ukraine must be enabled to develop as a sovereign nation within its internationally recognized borders, including for future generations."

They also pledge further military assistance to Ukraine to withstand Russia's "ongoing barbaric and illegal invasion." "We will continue to expand our support for Ukraine. As long as Russia does not agree to a permanent ceasefire, we will continue to increase the pressure on Russia's war machine."

For Merz, this is his third trip abroad since taking office on Tuesday. His first trip took him to allies in Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday. On Friday, he made his inaugural visit to Brussels. Merz's visit to Kyiv so soon after taking office was seen as a strong signal of support for Ukraine, which has been defending itself against Russian aggression for more than three years.

The government in Kyiv has long been asking Germany for Taurus cruise missiles with a range of approximately 500 kilometers. Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz (SPD), had refused to supply the Taurus missiles, citing a desire to avoid an escalation with Russia. This was met with incomprehension in Ukraine, as well as in parts of the later-collapsed "traffic light" coalition.

Merz has been open in the past to equipping Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles in coordination with European partners. The government of Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that this could lead to Germany becoming a party to the war.

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Germany, along with France, Great Britain, Poland, and other states, is part of the "Coalition of the Willing," which has committed to increased assistance for Ukraine. The goal of the alliance, led by France and Great Britain, is to offer Ukraine comprehensive security guarantees, particularly for the period following a possible ceasefire or peace agreement. The United States is not part of the alliance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting of leading representatives of the coalition in Kyiv for Saturday, but did not name any names.

The increased European engagement is particularly important for the beleaguered Ukraine because the US, under President Donald Trump, has threatened to end military aid. The United States has been Ukraine's most important supporter to date, with Germany in second place. At the beginning of March, Trump temporarily suspended military aid following a scandal at a meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House.

Zelenskyy has agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire, as demanded by the US. Russian President Vladimir Putin had recently announced only a three-day ceasefire, which officially ended Saturday night. Ukraine did not agree to it. Fighting continued even during the alleged ceasefire. The US Embassy in Kyiv warned on Friday that it had "received information about a potentially significant airstrike that could occur at any time in the coming days."

Merz spoke with Trump by phone on Thursday. On Friday, at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, he said the US president had informed him of his plan for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. "I explicitly support this. I also know that the French government, the British government, and the Polish government see it the same way." He added that Russia's war of aggression is also a frontal assault "against the entire post-1990 European political order."

At a meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Merz emphasized: "I have great hope that there will be an agreement for a ceasefire in Ukraine this weekend." He added: "The ball is now in Moscow's court, nowhere else."

During his visit to Brussels, Merz did not give Ukraine hope for NATO accession, as Ukraine is striving for. However, he emphasized Ukraine's prospects for accession to the European Union. The Trump administration has also rejected Ukraine's NATO accession. Ukraine argues that its membership in the defense alliance would be the most effective security guarantee against future Russian attacks. Furthermore, other NATO states could benefit from Ukraine's military experience.

With dpa