Trump in meeting with Merz: Sad about what's happening with Russia and Ukraine

Trump in meeting with Merz: Sad about what's happening with Russia and Ukraine

In a significant meeting scheduled for Thursday, US President Donald Trump will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Washington, DC. The two leaders are expected to address several pressing issues, including trade tensions and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This meeting comes at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic strain between the United States and Europe.

According to Reuters, the meeting is set to take place amid rising transatlantic tensions over trade issues and the Ukraine conflict [1]. The German Chancellor, who took office on May 6, will be making his first official visit to the United States as Germany's head of government. The discussions are expected to cover a range of topics, including the threat by President Trump to impose heavy tariffs on the European Union and the ongoing diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

In addition to trade policies, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will be a major point of discussion. Merz has been actively engaged in diplomacy on Ukraine, traveling to Kyiv and receiving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin. Merz has expressed his support for an unconditional ceasefire and has advocated for more sanctions against Russia. The White House official has indicated that Trump will stress the importance of direct peace talks [2].

Merz's meeting with Trump is also expected to cover Germany's defense spending. The new Chancellor has pledged to continue the support for Ukraine and has endorsed a plan for all allies to aim to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2032. The White House official has noted that the upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands later this month presents an opportunity for Germany to commit to meeting the 5% mark for defense spending [2].

The meeting will also touch on Germany's economic recovery, with Merz aiming to make the country a "locomotive of growth." However, Trump's tariff threats pose a significant obstacle to Germany's economic recovery. The US president has specifically targeted the German auto sector, which is a key strength of Germany's exports. Trump's 25% tariff on autos and parts is designed to increase the cost of German-made automobiles and encourage them to move their factories to the US [2].

Merz has expressed his view that tariffs "benefit no one and damage everyone," but he recognizes that trade negotiations are a matter for the European Union's executive commission. Trump recently delayed a planned 50% tariff on goods coming from the European Union, which would have otherwise gone into effect this month [2].

The meeting between Trump and Merz is set to take place at 11:45 a.m. EDT and is expected to be well-prepared on all sides, according to Merz. The German Chancellor has indicated that he wants to discuss the Ukraine war, tariffs, and NATO spending, emphasizing Germany's commitment to becoming the strongest conventional army in the European Union [3].

References:
[1] https://www.khaama.com/geran-chancellor-merz-to-meet-trump-amid-rising-us-europe-tensions/
[2] https://apnews.com/article/germany-merz-trump-washington-ukraine-trade-89ae8e553a0f8f44f9557f351adbacd0
[3] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-live-trump-and-german-chancellor-merz-expected-to-discuss-ukraine-support-and-nato-in-white-house-meeting