Zelenskyy Visits Berlin Ahead of Planned Peace Talks
German government sources confirmed the visit, which had not been publicly disclosed beforehand due to security considerations.
Merz revealed the planned meeting while addressing business representatives, telling the audience that Zelenskyy “will be with me again just after noon.”
Although the chancellor did not specify the agenda, he reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to supporting Ukraine. He also recalled a tense encounter between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the White House in February 2025, describing it as the decisive moment that prompted his government to accelerate efforts to strengthen Europe's independent defense capabilities.
“This is a challenge that we all did not foresee in this dimension,” Merz told the gathering. “For me, the last impetus was Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House in February of last year and the scenes that played out there.”
Merz said the episode convinced him that European countries needed to take greater responsibility for their own security.
“This is not to call NATO into question,” he stressed. “We want to be able to defend ourselves -- so that we do not actually have to defend ourselves,” he continued. “And second, we are making NATO more European so that it can remain transatlantic.”
He added that these two principles remain central to his government's approach to international relations and security policy.
The meeting between Merz and Zelenskyy is taking place ahead of another round of US-mediated negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine, scheduled for Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the discussions would bring together advisers representing the leaders of the countries involved.
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