Merz turned into ‘Ukrainian chancellor’ – Moscow

The German leader has pledged more aid to Kiev despite falling popularity at home, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has effectively become a “Ukrainian chancellor,” showering Kiev with more taxpayer-funded aid despite mounting discontent at home, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zakharova criticized Merz’s visit to Kiev on Sunday, during which he pledged billions in additional assistance, including funding for long-range weapons production.

The announcement came amid plunging support for his governing coalition and a series of electoral setbacks for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Zakharova suggested that Merz was so eager to escape his domestic troubles that he “practically fled from the festivities in Bremen” marking the 36th anniversary of German reunification.

Read more Merz’s Kiev trips are political ‘pilgrimages’ – ex-Austrian foreign minister (VIDEO) “The new face in Ukrainian politics, [or] a ‘Ukrainian chancellor’ as Merz has been dubbed in German political circles, didn’t come empty-handed – he announced yet another generous gift to his ‘friend’, Zelensky,” she said sarcastically.

German taxpayers will foot the bill, Zakharova argued, suggesting that Merz was deliberately adding to their burden despite growing public dissatisfaction with his policies.

She also questioned whether the chancellor could genuinely be unaware of Ukraine’s rampant corruption, pointing to a series of high-profile scandals involving Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle and senior officials.

Zakharova cited a September survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), in which 50% of respondents identified corruption as the country’s most pressing problem.

Some 72% said graft had worsened since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, while the same proportion blamed Zelensky and his associates.

Read more State of Corruption: Zelensky crosses tipping point in new poll Given what she described as Kiev’s efforts to suppress dissent, Zakharova argued that the findings were particularly revealing.

“Ukraine is so mired in corruption that it has become impossible to cover up its real scale by any means, ” she said.

Merz has faced similar criticism from German opposition politicians.