President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is scheduled to visit Berlin on Wednesday, marking his first trip to Germany since Chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office earlier this month. This visit comes at a critical time for the Ukraine-Germany alliance, especially as concerns about the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's defense grow intensively. Merz has emerged as a significant ally for Ukraine, displaying a more proactive stance than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, even as he contends with dissent within his governing coalition regarding military support.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it took Scholz over a year to officially host Zelensky in Berlin, which adds more weight to the importance of this upcoming discussion. Notably, this will be Zelensky's third meeting with Merz since the Chancellor took office on May 6.
The agenda for the talks is likely to center around military assistance, with specific attention on the highly coveted Taurus cruise missile system. Developed collaboratively by Germany and Sweden, the Taurus boasts an impressive range of 310 miles, allowing it to target deep into Russian territory effectively. This capability would complement the existing support Ukraine receives from allies, such as Britain and France, who provide the SCALP/Storm Shadow cruise missiles, but the Taurus could enhance Ukraine's ability to strike critical infrastructure like the bridges linking Crimea with mainland Russia.
Zelensky's meeting with Merz symbolizes renewed European support for Ukraine amid shifting geopolitical alliances and highlights Germany’s increasingly assertive role on the European stage in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
