German conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) occasion chief Friedrich Merz attends a press convention following the overall election in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2025.
Fabrizio Bensch | Reuters
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will journey to Washington subsequent week to satisfy U.S. President Donald Trump, with the warfare in Ukraine and commerce tensions among the many objects on the agenda, the German authorities mentioned Saturday.
Merz’s workplace mentioned the brand new German chief, who took the helm of Europe’s greatest economic system on Could 6, will meet Trump on the White Home on Thursday — the primary in-person assembly between the 2.
It mentioned that the assembly will deal with bilateral relations and worldwide points corresponding to Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, the state of affairs within the Center East and commerce coverage.
Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to attempt to safe a ceasefire and maintain Western assist for Ukraine intact since changing into Germany’s chief. On Wednesday, he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin.
Germany has a powerful curiosity in defusing commerce tensions between the European Union and the Usa. Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on items imported from the 27-nation bloc beginning Sunday, however then pushed again the deadline to July 9.