Zelenskiy Arrives in Berlin for High-Level Talks with Chancellor Merz on War and Ceasefire Efforts

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy landed in Berlin on Wednesday for critical talks with newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aiming to accelerate diplomatic efforts toward ending the war with Russia.

Zelenskiy was received with military honors at the federal chancellery, where discussions centered on Germany’s evolving role as a key supporter of Ukraine and broader efforts to reach a ceasefire. The visit marks a pivotal moment as Germany positions itself to take on greater responsibility in European security, especially amid waning U.S. commitment.

Chancellor Merz, who assumed office earlier this month, has pledged to take a firmer stance in supporting Ukraine compared to his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. In a notable shift, Merz recently voiced support for Ukraine’s right to carry out missile strikes on Russian territory—departing from Germany’s previous cautious posture.

Germany has refrained from publicly announcing specific arms shipments, adopting a strategy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding its military aid to Kyiv. However, officials confirm that support will remain strong as Ukraine faces continued Russian offensives, including a reported build-up of 50,000 Russian troops near the northern Sumy region.

This visit follows initial direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials earlier this month, the first such talks since the 2022 full-scale invasion. The dialogue was prompted by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump but failed to yield a ceasefire.

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Russia has since escalated air attacks across Ukraine and continues to resist a negotiated settlement. Both Washington and Kyiv await Moscow’s formal peace memorandum, while Germany signals that no quick resolution is likely.

“Putin and Russia clearly have no interest in a ceasefire or peace deal at this time,” Merz warned.

Zelenskiy emphasized that this Berlin meeting was crucial to addressing unresolved security and strategic matters between the two nations.