German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House and his meeting with US President Donald Trump did not go as expected.
“The visit did not go as Zelensky wanted. I think I can say that here too“, Merz said during a meeting with citizens in the western city of Meschede. His words were quoted by the N-TV channel.
The chancellor also said that he had a long telephone conversation with Zelensky on the evening of October 17.
Zelensky's visit to the US, according to Merz, showed that Kiev needs European help. Merz will work to support Ukraine “financially, politically and militarily“. Europe, the German prime minister claims, must provide assistance because “the conflict can only be ended if Ukraine is militarily strong“.
On October 17, Trump met with Zelensky at the White House, discussing arms supplies to Ukraine and the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the American leader in Budapest.
Earlier, Axios, citing its sources, reported that Trump told Zelensky that the United States currently does not intend to supply “Tomahawk“ missiles to Ukraine.
According to the media, the American leader made it clear that his current priority is diplomacy and that missile supplies could undermine it.
The White House confirmed this information and assured that the US president will continue to work for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.