German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will depart for Washington tonight on his first visit to the United States since taking office four weeks ago, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
His schedule in the American capital will begin tomorrow morning with a working meeting and lunch with President Donald Trump at the White House. The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference in the Oval Office.
According to sources, the main topics of conversation will be efforts to end the war in Ukraine, NATO's common response to growing international threats, as well as disagreements between the United States and the European Union over customs policies.
Merz stressed that he will not go to Washington to “beg for favors“, but to present the European positions convincingly. The visit will be short - around 5 p.m. The Chancellor will depart Berlin this evening, after a working dinner with the premiers of the German states, and will spend the night at Blair House - the official guest house of the American president.
Although this is Merz's first official visit to the United States as Chancellor, the two have met briefly in New York in the past. Since taking office, Merz has spoken to Trump by phone four times - once privately and three times in talks with other European leaders focused on the war in Ukraine.
DPA recalls that the recent visits to the White House by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took place amid heightened interest and tension.