German president receives Zelensky in Berlin amid Ukraine peace push
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of ongoing talks aimed at finding a peace settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Steinmeier welcomed Zelensky at Bellevue Palace, where the two leaders embraced on the steps upon Zelensky’s arrival.
The visit took place under tight security. Police cordoned off the area around the president’s official residence, snipers were positioned on the roof of Bellevue Palace and a helicopter circled overhead.
Later on Monday, Zelensky is also due to hold talks with Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Zelensky and Merz are also set to jointly attend the 8th German-Ukrainian Economic Forum, which is also being held in Berlin.
In the evening, Merz is to host several European leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer among those attending the talks with Zelensky.
Intensive diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year-old war have been under way in the German capital since the weekend. Talks between the Ukrainian delegation led by Zelensky and a US delegation headed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff started on Sunday and were continuing.
