Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv
Federal Chancellor Merz, Macron, Tusk and Starmer visit Kyiv together for the first time. With their visit, they are sending a strong signal of solidarity with Ukraine – and, together with the US, are calling for a 30-day ceasefire for fresh peace talks.
2 min reading time
In conversation in Kyiv: the heads of state and government Starmer, Macron, Merz, Zelensky and Tusk.
Photo: Photo: Federal Government/Jesco Denzel
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing took place during the visit. The five heads of state and government also spoke jointly on the phone with President Donald Trump after their discussions.
Read the outcomes of the talks between France, Germany, Poland, the UK and Ukraine here PDF, 39 KB, not barrier-free .
Call for 30-day ceasefire
At the subsequent press conference, Federal Chancellor Merz reiterated his demand to Russia for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday. “It must be clear,” said Merz, “that if Russia refuses this ceasefire, we will continue to defend Ukraine and to increase the pressure on Russia.”
He emphasised that the US supports the initiative. Together with President Trump, the countries would do everything in their power to support Ukraine – including by extending sanctions.
Read the press statement (only german) from Federal Chancellor Merz in Kyiv here.
In a joint declaration PDF, 39 KB, not barrier-free published by the four heads of state and government on Saturday night, they said: “Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky leads his official guests to the sea of flags in Maidan Square, which commemorates the Ukrainians who have been killed.
Photo: Federal Government/Jesco Denzel
Trip as a sign of solidarity
In the joint statement, the heads of state and government declared the joint trip a sign of “solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s barbaric and illegal full-scale invasion.”
During the visit, the heads of state and government commemorated the victims of the Russian war of aggression in Maidan Square. Flags for the Ukrainians who have been killed are displayed there.
This is the first joint visit to Ukraine by the heads of state and government of these four countries and Friedrich Merz’s first trip as the newly elected Federal Chancellor.