Merz and Macron plan "intensive discussion" of anti-corruption efforts with Zelenskyy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron intend to hold in-depth discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding measures to combat corruption.
"President Macron and the German chancellor have agreed to conduct intensive discussions with the president of Ukraine regarding the fight against corruption," German government spokesperson Stefan Cornelius said following a three-hour meeting between the two leaders in Germany on Wednesday, as quoted by Bild.
Cornelius said Macron and Merz had stressed that right now, Ukraine is at a crucial turning point on its path towards EU membership.
The spokesperson added that the two leaders also had a lengthy discussion about the military situation in Ukraine and further military aid to Kyiv, but gave no further details.
On the evening of 23 July, Zelenskyy commented on the outrage expressed by the public and Ukraine’s international partners over actions targeting anti-corruption institutions, promising to submit his own draft law to guarantee their independence.
The G7 ambassadors have welcomed Zelenskyy's promise to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies and offered their assistance in this regard.