BERLIN – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for high-level discussions with newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as part of a renewed diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine, now Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Zelenskiy’s visit comes at a critical moment, following the first direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in over two years – negotiations spurred by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump but which failed to yield a ceasefire. In the days since, Russia launched several large-scale aerial assaults, and has reportedly massed 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.
The Ukrainian leader will be received with military honours at the federal chancellery, with discussions expected to centre on military support, peace efforts, and the broader European response to the conflict. A German government spokesperson confirmed that the talks will also address ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
With Trump’s stance on Ukraine appearing increasingly uncertain, Germany is poised to assume a more prominent role. Chancellor Merz, who replaced Olaf Scholz earlier this month, has vowed a firmer, more proactive approach to supporting Kyiv. Notably, he recently endorsed Ukraine’s right to conduct long-range missile strikes inside Russian territory — a departure from his predecessor’s cautious tone.
Germany has already emerged as Ukraine’s largest supporter in Europe, and Merz’s early trip to Kyiv, coupled with his strong rhetoric, signals a shift in Berlin’s foreign policy leadership. However, while Germany will continue to provide arms, the new administration has adopted a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” choosing not to publicly disclose future weapons shipments.
Ahead of the Berlin talks, Zelenskiy expressed appreciation for Merz’s engagement but noted that their earlier meeting in Kyiv was too brief for in-depth discussion. “We agreed that the time will come when I will come to Berlin and we will talk about it,” he said.
Despite growing pressure for peace, Merz has tempered expectations, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin currently has “no interest” in ending the war. “This means, as a consequence, that Ukraine must continue to defend itself — and that we must actually intensify our efforts to enable Ukraine to do so,” Merz said.
As both sides wait for Russia’s draft of a proposed peace memorandum, Moscow has accused Ukraine of ramping up drone and missile strikes using Western-supplied arms, a claim likely to feature in upcoming international discussions.