The leader of the German conservatives Friedrich Merz, favorite in the next elections, arrived this Monday, December 9, in kyiv, a week after the trip to Ukraine of his rival, the Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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Friedrich Merz is in favor under certain conditions of a delivery of German Taurus missiles in kyiv, unlike Olaf Scholz who still refuses for fear of an escalation with Russia. The leader of the German Christian Democratic party CDU is to be received this Monday morning by the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“ I traveled to kyiv today to find out what the situation is in Ukraine and where we can provide support “, he declared on X in a caption accompanying a photo of his arrival by train. “ The war in Ukraine must end as quickly as possible. Putin will only agree to negotiate if Ukraine manages to defend itself “, he also wrote.
A week ago, Olaf Scholz also went to kyiv, assuring Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia could not “ dictate » to Ukraine its conditions for peace. The Ukrainian head of state said he had again discussed with the German Chancellor the request for the delivery of Taurus missiles, capable of striking deep into Russian territory.
Germany, second arms supplier to Ukraine
Since the Russian invasion, Germany has been the second largest supplier of military aid to kyiv, after the United States. And the war in Ukraine has already established itself as one of the major themes of the electoral campaign in Germany, for which Friedrich Merz’s CDU is the big favorite with around 30% of voting intentions.
Like Olaf Scholz, Friedrich Merz had already traveled to Ukraine shortly after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. These trips come at a time when Ukrainian forces are retreating on the front and while the arrival in January of Donald Trump in the White House raises fears of a cessation of American aid to kyiv.
Also readGermany: in front of the deputies of the Bundestag, Olaf Scholz emphasizes his support for Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky assured on Sunday that he wanted a “ lasting peace ” for his country, the day after an interview in Paris with the American president-elect Donald Trump, who indicated for his part that kyiv should expect ” probably » unless there is American aid after he takes office.