According to two officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, May 7 was selected as the date for Merz’s visit to Paris because both Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron will be occupied on May 8 with national ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
French officials are hopeful that Merz’s rise will usher in a new chapter in Franco-German relations. The rapport between Macron and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been widely characterized as strained, with disagreements on key issues such as energy policy, support for Ukraine, and trade further complicating the relationship.
A senior ally of President Macron said that talks between Macron and Merz are already underway, with the leaders making significant efforts to collaborate on matters including defense, trade, and Europe’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Progress in these areas is expected in the coming weeks.
In addition to Paris and Warsaw, Merz is also considering a visit to Kyiv on May 9, following an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has asked EU leaders to travel to Ukraine on that date to counterbalance the symbolism of Russia’s Victory Day military parade. Two EU diplomats, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that discussions are in progress regarding Merz’s potential trip to Ukraine.
The French presidency declined to comment on the matter.
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