Merz, Macron plan “intensive talks” with Zelenskyy on anti-corruption efforts

According to European Pravda, the announcement came from German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius following a three-hour meeting between the two leaders in Berlin on Wednesday. His remarks were cited by Bild.

“President Macron and Chancellor Merz agreed to hold intensive talks with President Zelenskyy on the issue of combating corruption,” Kornelius said.

He emphasized that both leaders see this as a critical turning point for Ukraine on its path toward European Union membership.

Kornelius also noted that Merz and Macron had a lengthy conversation about the military situation in Ukraine and future defense support for Kyiv, though he did not disclose further details.

• A group of Ukrainian lawmakers has submitted a new draft law to Parliament aiming to restore the independence of the country’s key anti-corruption bodies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). A vote on the bill is likely to take place on Thursday, July 25.