German opposition chancellor candidate Merz plans Kyiv visit

This was reported by the German TV channel NTV.

Speaking at a security event in Berlin, Merz said the trip would take place “in the coming days.” He noted that he would "inform European partners" about his visit and its outcomes.

Merz also renewed his call for a contact group comprising Germany, France, Poland, and the UK to develop a unified European strategy “to support Ukraine and end the war.” He added: “I say this now because none of us know what will happen after January 20, 2025.” Notably, the inauguration of the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled for that date.

The CDU leader urged European countries to ramp up support for Ukraine with “all necessary diplomatic, financial, humanitarian, and even military means” to ensure Ukraine’s self-defense and the restoration of its territorial integrity. He stressed: “Ukraine must win the war, and Russia must lose.”

Merz challenged the notion that nuclear powers don’t lose wars, citing the Soviet Union’s failure in Afghanistan and the U.S. defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan as examples. He emphasized that Germany must avoid direct participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The CDU leader also advocated strengthening Germany’s and Europe’s military capabilities. “We must be able to defend ourselves so we don’t have to defend ourselves,” he stated. “Strength deters aggression, weakness encourages it.”

• Friedrich Merz, regarded as a favorite in the German chancellorship race, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. He was among the first German politicians to visit Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion, arriving in Kyiv in May 2022.
• Merz has repeatedly urged Olaf Scholz to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and increase other military support. Recently, he stated that, if elected chancellor, he would issue an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin regarding the war and, if ignored, would supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles.