Wed May 28 08:28:17 UTC 2025: **Zelenskyy to Meet German Chancellor Amid Escalating Russian Attacks, Weapons Restrictions Lifted**
**Berlin, Germany** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin today, as Ukraine urgently seeks increased military support in the face of a recent surge in Russian bombing campaigns. The talks come days after Chancellor Merz announced that key Western allies, including the US and UK, have lifted restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to Kyiv, allowing Ukraine to strike military positions within Russia.
The meeting, set to begin at 10:00 GMT, will also address potential further sanctions against Russia. The ongoing conflict, despite previous face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey and efforts by the United States, remains unresolved. Chancellor Merz expressed pessimism on Tuesday, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin currently shows “no interest in a ceasefire or a peace deal.” He emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to continue its defense and for Western allies to intensify their support.
The decision to lift weapons restrictions, while hailed as a critical step in enabling Ukraine’s defense, has drawn criticism from the Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that such actions are “completely at odds” with aspirations for a peaceful settlement and deemed them “dangerous.”
Meanwhile, fighting continues intensely along the front lines. Russia launched a major drone attack against Ukraine on Sunday, and its air defenses reportedly downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones across multiple Russian regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Moscow also experienced drone attacks, causing delays and diversions at airports. Ukraine, in turn, reported being targeted by Russian missiles and drones overnight, impacting railway infrastructure in several regions.
First Piper 