Rome (dpa-AfX)-Chancellor Friedrich Merz has had further discussions on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Pope in order to promote the efforts to end the Ukraine War. In St. Peter’s Basilica, he spoke to the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In the morning he had already met with the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In the evening, Merz now wants to join in with French President Emmanuel Macron, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump to talk to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to coordinate on Monday. Such a conversation was requested in the White House, it said from government circles.
Merz hopes for further progress in Ukraine diplomacy
“We can only hope that there are now further progress,” said Merz. “And my fixed impression is that both Europeans and the Americans are determined, but together to ensure that this terrible war will soon stop.”
Merz described the inauguration itself as a “uplifting moment”. Leo XIV wished the Catholic, who pursued the fair together with tens of thousands of believers and top representatives of around 150 countries, a “good and happy hand” for what he was up to as head of the Catholic Church.
Chancellor does not feel addressed by criticism of capitalism
For capitalism criticism in the Pope’s sermon, Merz expressed understanding. The fact that Leo XIV. However, Merz is not one of the main addressees. “I feel very limited with what we call social market economy in Germany.” In his sermon, Leo XIV had warned, among other things, not to push the poorest to the brink of society.
Merz ‘Ms. Charlotte for the first time on a Chancellor’s trip
In St. Peter’s Basilica there was a short encounter between Merz and the Pope, in which the two changed a few words. The Chancellor was first accompanied by his wife Charlotte in Rome on a trip abroad as a chancellor. Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD) Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), Federal Council President Anke Rehlinger (SPD) and the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Stephan Harbarth, also took part in the inaution of the Pope.
Charm offensive at Meloni
The efforts to end the Ukraine War were already a main topic at the meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday at the start of the Chancellor’s Rome visit. The Chancellor, as an important EU partner, promised closer to the end of the war in Ukraine. “We agreed that Italy had to play a role here,” he said at a joint press conference.
There had been irritation in Rome because Meloni was not there on the recent visit of four Europeans in Kiev. Merz left open when he was visited in Rome, which a closer integration had to mean. Meloni should not be there again at the discussion at Trump for Sunday evening.
The CDU chairman announced, however, to have talks about the integration of Italy with other European partners in the next few days. “We cannot be divided apart in the European Union. There are also not members of the first or second class.”
Meloni: give up “personal sensitivities”
The head of state and government from France, Great Britain and Poland were also not there on the Kiev trip of the Chancellor- Italy, although Meloni’s predecessor Mario Draghi used to be included on such occasions. The relationship between France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Meloni is considered tense. Can Merz convey that?
Meloni said – without name – that now it may be the moment to “give up personal sensitivities that threaten to undermine the important and fundamental unity of the West”. The chair of the right party Fratelli d’Italia (brothers of Italy) is considered the best contacts to US President Trump in the circle of European heads of government. It leads a right three coalition.
“Indispensable strategic partner”
However, Meloni rejected the new Chancellor for his first visit to the White House. Merz is “a politician with great experience,” said the head of government. “I am not necessarily able to give the psychologist of the international leader.” Merz wants to fly to Washington soon. The appointment is not yet known.
In German politics there are significant differences in opinion on how to deal with Meloni, whose party has their roots in post -fascism. Merz described Italy as a “indispensable strategic partner”. To a report that Italy is not mentioned accordingly in the coalition agreement at the urge of the SPD, he said: “The news about it is all wrong.”/MFI/CS/DP/He