Germany’s partnership with Ukraine was reaffirmed during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s state visit to Berlin on Tuesday. Zelenskyy has called Germany Ukraine’s “partner number one” in its defence, a description he used during government consultations in April.
But despite Berlin’s military support, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is portrayed as a committed ally with limited influence over what happens next. The article argues that Ukraine’s future is being decided in Moscow and Washington rather than in the German capital.
The US government has announced peace talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi for next week, without European representatives at the table. European leaders are trying to secure a role, including through a recent call between the leaders of Finland and Norway and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the commentary argues that European appeals may carry little weight as long as US President Donald Trump continues to engage with Putin.
Sources: Handelsblatt.