Germany to hold joint consultations with Ukraine, Merz announces

German ministers are set to hold joint consultations with the Ukrainian government this year, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Merz said Germany and Ukraine have grown closer since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

German and Ukrainian officials have been working together closely, too, he added.

“We want to expand this further and, towards the end of the year, we will have German-Ukrainian government consultations again for the first time in many years,” said Merz.

Joint consultations are official meetings between governments, attended by countries’ leaders and ministers.

Germany last held inter-governmental consultations with India in October.