KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that he met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, just weeks before a federal election in Germany.

Mr Merz argued the need “to negotiate with the American side from a position of strength”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Germany's election frontrunner says Europeans are waiting for Germany to take the lead on dealing with the new American president.

President Volodymyr Zelensky separately met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 22.

German conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz reacts during the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21,

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met in the German Bundestag with Friedrich Merz, the leader of the German opposition and the CDU/CSU (Union) parliamentary group, as well as a candidate for the next chancellor of Germany.