Moscow and Kiev will soon sit down at the table again to negotiate an end to the war. That was one of the main topics of the meeting between Merz and Zelensky in Berlin. What else was it about?
Zelensky's visit to Berlin was not announced for security reasons. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Berlin. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised Ukraine 200 million euros in additional winter aid and wants to organize further support at a summit in Berlin in just over two weeks. “We will continue our help until this war is over,” promised Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.
Both insisted that the Europeans must be involved in the upcoming talks to end the Russian war of aggression. “We have a common view with Friedrich that there can be no stable peace without the Europeans being involved in the negotiations in one format or another,” said Zelensky.
Next week new round in Abu Dhabi
The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in a long time will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week under US mediation. How the Europeans will be involved is still unclear. “Europe must and wants to play a role in this process,” emphasized Chancellor Merz.
Germany is Ukraine's most important supporter. Merz emphasized several times that this was in Germany's own interest. “The outcome of this war will shape European security for a long time,” said the CDU leader.
The Bundestag still has to approve the 200 million package
According to government sources, the additional winter aid will be used for humanitarian aid and securing energy supplies and half will come from the Foreign Office and half from the Ministry of Development. The Bundestag still has to approve the 200 million package.
The “Coalition of the Willing” meets in Berlin
Merz has invited heads of state and government from the “Coalition of the Willing” to Berlin on November 19th to support Ukraine. The group includes around 35 countries. The summit will primarily focus on further military aid for Ukraine's defense against Russia.
Merz emphasized that Germany, as the largest supporter, cannot shoulder the aid to Ukraine alone. “All Europeans have responsibility, not just the Germans.”
Partial ceasefire and prisoner exchange sought
Zelensky named three priorities for the upcoming talks with Russia:
A ceasefire on attacks on energy supplies and other critical infrastructure.
An end to the blockade of grain transport across the Black Sea. Russia and other countries in Africa and Asia are also interested in this, said Zelensky.
A prisoner exchange. He spoke of an exchange of all for all.
Three important summits before the end of the year
The talks in Abu Dhabi will be followed by three important summit meetings:
On the sidelines of the APEC economic summit (November 18th and 19th) in Shenzhen, China, the presidents of the USA, China and Russia - Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin - may meet for a three-way summit. China is Russia's main supporter in the Ukraine war. Western leaders say Putin would not be able to continue his war without Chinese help.
At around the same time, the summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” will take place in Berlin. Ukraine hopes this will provide further help for air defense. The best means of combating Russia's dangerous ballistic missiles are the US Patriots. They are also available in numerous other countries, but are difficult to dispense with. The Bundeswehr has already given up all the Patriot systems that it can do without without endangering its own air defense.
The G20 summit will take place in Florida from December 13th to 15th. The exciting question: Is Putin taking part again for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine? And if so, will host Trump also invite Zelensky? Merz made it clear that he could not imagine a summit with the Kremlin leader but without the Ukrainian president. “When people talk about Ukraine, the President of Ukraine must be at the table,” he demanded.
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UkraineFriedrich MerzBerlinEuropean UnionRussiaCDU
Merz emphasized that no opportunity should be missed to hold talks and make further diplomatic efforts. But these would really have to lead to an end to the hostilities, a ceasefire and a peace agreement in Ukraine. “Anything else is unacceptable,” said Merz.
Ukraine asks EU for 70 billion euros
Even after the summit of the “Coalition of the Willing,” Merz will still be concerned with organizing further aid for Ukraine. For the coming year, the country needs an additional 70 billion euros from the Europeans. Zelenskyj mentioned this sum at the last EU summit in October.
How to raise the money will be the topic of the EU summits this year, which will primarily focus on the EU's medium-term financial planning. The use of Russian assets frozen in the EU may then come into play again.
