Germany's CDU leader Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv to reaffirm support

Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s candidate for chancellor in Germany’s upcoming snap elections in February, is looking to shore up support among his base.

Transcript

00:00Leader of Germany's opposition centre-right Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Friedrich Merz,

00:06has said his party stands firmly with Ukrainians.

00:10Merz, also the CDU's candidate for Chancellor in Germany's upcoming February snap elections,

00:16said this on Monday as he arrived in Kiev for a visit.

00:20I am very much looking forward to the new meeting with the President

00:24and would like to find out what the situation is in Ukraine

00:28and what we can do to help this devastated country

00:32continue to defend itself against Russian aggression.

00:36His visit follows that of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kiev last week.

00:41It also comes at a critical time with the trajectory of the Ukraine war still uncertain

00:47as Kiev waits to know the plans of incoming US President Donald Trump.

00:52Ukraine is seeing a rise in talks with its European allies ahead of the Trump presidency.