**Germany and Ukraine Talk About Ending the War**
A senior German politician visited Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to talk about stopping the war with Russia. Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative opposition, met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on December 9.
Merz said that four European countries – Germany, France, the UK, and Poland – should work together to find a way to end the war in Ukraine. He suggested presenting their plan to the US leadership. President Zelensky agreed with Merz’s idea.
**Germany’s Politics**
The visit comes as Germany prepares for new elections in February 2025. The current government is likely to change, and Merz might become the next Chancellor of Germany.
Merz emphasized that Europe should have a united approach to ending the war in Ukraine. He wants to avoid individual peace plans from different countries.
**What’s Happening**
The US President-elect, Donald Trump, promised to end the war quickly. His plan involves bringing Ukraine and Russia to negotiations and changing how much military aid each side gets.
President Zelensky responded by saying that a similar group is already organized with Denmark representing the Nordic countries. The first meeting will take place in December.