Zelensky held talks with Merz in Berlin regarding support for Ukraine
On Tuesday, 14 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on an official visit. In the German capital, he met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. An official welcoming ceremony attended by the Ukrainian delegation has already taken place, according to DW.
The delegation included Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Head of the President’s Office Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Heads of the President’s Office Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva, as well as the President’s special adviser on strategic issues Oleksandr Kamyshin.
During the talks, the parties discussed financial and military support for Ukraine, the country’s reconstruction, and the return of Ukrainian refugees. They also discussed Europe’s involvement in potential peace agreements.
Following the meeting, Ukraine and Germany signed a series of agreements on cooperation in the fields of defence and reconstruction. In particular, they agreed to collaborate on the development and production of drones, as well as in the field of digital technologies on the battlefield.
Friedrich Merz expressed support for Ukraine’s aspiration to join the European Union, noting that this is a strategically important step for Europe’s security and prosperity. At the same time, he emphasised that this would not happen in the near future.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is not seeking a simplified form of EU or NATO membership. According to him, the priority remains the protection of energy and transport infrastructure ahead of the winter period.
The issue of increasing pressure on Russia to achieve peace was discussed separately. Zelenskyy expressed confidence that the European Union would be able to provide Ukraine with the promised loan of 90 billion euros.
In parallel, meetings between Ukrainian and German government officials took place in Berlin. Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity, Denys Ulyutin, held talks with Germany’s Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, at the Unity Hub, a centre established to support Ukrainian refugees.
The following day, 15 April, a meeting of the Contact Group on Defence Issues for Ukraine is scheduled to take place in Berlin in the Ramstein format, with the participation of defence ministers from allied countries and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
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