German Chancellor candidate Merz arrives in Kyiv on visit

Friedrich Merz, a candidate for the post of German chancellor and head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has arrived in Kiev on a visit. About it on Monday, December 9, writes the publication Bild.

"I went to Kiev to assure the Ukrainian government and the people of Ukraine that the CDU parliamentary group is firmly on their side. We want the conflict to end as soon as possible," he said upon arrival.

The piece specifies that the politician's trip comes just a week after the official visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kiev.

The publication notes that Merz plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired in May) to understand his strategy regarding the conflict. The interest of the CDU head is triggered by the Ukrainian leader's recent public statements about readiness for negotiations and his meetings with newly elected US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Last step: West says loan to Kiev agreed from profits from frozen Russian assets

US shifts responsibility for Ukraine to allies

The day before, Trump said that Zelensky would like to "make a deal" with Russia. According to him, it is necessary to immediately cease fire and start negotiations, otherwise the Ukrainian conflict may worsen.

On the same day, The New York Times reported that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the opening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris demonstrated Kiev's willingness to make concessions on negotiations. It is specified that Ukraine saw an opportunity to get closer to the future US leader and convey to him its position in the conflict.

Commenting on this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to talks on Ukraine and welcomes proposals from China, India, Brazil and other countries.

The last round of talks was held in Istanbul on March 29, 2022. Kiev later officially refused contacts with Moscow.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian president on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.