Merz has refused to supply Germany’s prized Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite calling for it when he was opposition leader. Yet his government delivered financial and technical assistance for the development of Ukraine’s own long-range weapons. On Thursday, Zelenskyy announced the successful test of Ukraine’s FP-7 ballistic tactical missile.
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, from Merz’s center-right CDU party, joined the trip alongside representatives from a dozen German energy, chemical and drone manufacturing companies, which will participate in a German-Ukrainian economic forum in Kyiv on Sunday.
There are tensions between Merz and Zelenskyy when it comes to Ukraine’s desire to swiftly join the European Union.
The German Chancellor has voiced skepticism that an EU accession would be possible in the coming years and instead proposed an “associated membership” that would grant Ukraine access to the EU’s single market and an observer status in the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament, but without any voting rights.
Zelenskyy, however, has rejected the proposal, saying that Ukraine needs “full and equal” membership.
Merz’s visit comes amid renewed attempts to seek a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who met with his Russia counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York last weekend, has welcomed a U.S. invite for Vladimir Putin to the G20 leaders’ summit in Miami in December, saying it could be a chance for serious negotiations.
However, so far “Russia’s leadership shows no real interest in putting an end to its deeply inhumane fantasies of subjugation and conquest,” Wadephul said on Friday. “It intends to continue the war against Ukraine.”