The Guardian’s Europe Live briefing, presented by Jakub Krupa, reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to visit Berlin on Tuesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz confirmed the visit during an industry speech on Tuesday morning and said Zelenskyy would arrive with him just after midday. The Berlin meeting was set ahead of next week’s trilateral talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi.

An Ebrahim Noroozi/AP photograph showed Merz welcoming Zelenskyy in Berlin, Germany, in April.

News of a possible trip began circulating the previous night. The Guardian said Zelenskyy’s trips are usually kept secret until the last moment for security reasons. Merz’s speech provided the public confirmation of the Berlin meeting.

In his speech, Merz said: “He’ll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then.” He made the remark while recalling last year’s showdown between Zelenskyy and Trump at the White House, according to The Guardian.

Merz said Germany’s push to rapidly increase defense spending last year was triggered by the scenes in the Oval Office. In the speech, he said: “What we experienced last year … led me to conclude that we must ensure, on our own, that we are capable of defending ourselves in Europe.”

Merz said the spending drive was not meant to question Nato but to strengthen it. “We are making Nato more European so it can remain transatlantic,” he said. His comments connected Germany’s increased defense spending with greater European capacity and Nato’s transatlantic role.

The Guardian’s wider Europe agenda included another expected political test in Sweden. A second parliamentary vote on the new government was expected to fail again, 51 days after the election.

In Spain, transport minister Óscar Puente was expected to present new ideas on reforming high-speed rail before a parliamentary committee, following what The Guardian described as last week’s tragic crash in Toledo.

Attention was also expected in Poland after last weekend’s protests over the country’s constitutional tribunal. In Belgium, The Guardian said uncertainty continued around Bart De Wever’s government.