German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin to underline that Germany remains firmly behind Ukraine, while acknowledging that winning public support for continued assistance is becoming more difficult. The visit came as the war approaches its fifth winter, with no end in sight.
Merz said helping Ukraine serves Germany’s own interests, including its security and the political and peace order of Europe. He described Germany as Ukraine’s largest supporter as the United States reduces its involvement, and said other European countries must also take responsibility. The “Coalition of the Willing” is due to meet in Berlin on November 19, with support for 2027 also on the agenda.
The visit took place amid domestic criticism of aid to Ukraine. Before Zelenskyy arrived, AfD leader Alice Weidel shared a video on X that she said showed clashes involving demonstrators and Ukraine’s National Guard, as well as men allegedly held after being recruited for military service. The report said the claims, including an allegation that a young man was tortured, lacked independent confirmation and were disputed. Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW, posted a similar message. Weidel called on Merz to raise the issue with Zelenskyy.
Merz said Germany was working at every level to end the war. New peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, are due to begin in Abu Dhabi the following week. Merz argued that Europe should be involved in discussions about peace and said it would be unacceptable for other countries to decide Ukraine’s future without Ukraine’s participation. He also called for Zelenskyy to be invited to the G20 summit in Miami in December if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends.
Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its support and said more people in Ukraine would have died without it. He said Ukraine would not give up, but that no country could defend itself alone. Appealing to Germans, he urged them to preserve Germany as a country people could believe in and said Europe’s role would grow, adding that this would not be possible without Germany.
Sources: Tagesschau.