Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to make an unexpected visit to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as Russia carried out overnight attacks on Ukraine on the day of US congressional elections. The visit comes ahead of trilateral negotiations with Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi next week. Separately, a Polish LOT Airlines flight from London made an unplanned landing at Warsaw Modlin airport after a bomb alert.
Merz confirmed the visit during an industry speech on Tuesday, recalling the Oval Office showdown between Zelenskyy and Trump last year. “He’ll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then,” Merz said. The German chancellor said that encounter had prompted Berlin to accelerate its defence spending. “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,” he said, adding that the move was intended to strengthen NATO. “We are making Nato more European so it can remain transatlantic.”
Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s overnight attacks, which he said involved 289 drones, 59 cruise missiles and 17 ballistic missiles. He said the attacks on critical infrastructure across the country were causing emergency and unscheduled power outages, and also hit civilian buildings, including a city hospital in Kharkiv, where 73 people were injured. He said a rescue operation had been under way since the previous day in Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region, and that the death toll had risen, adding that Russia had killed 29 people. “It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections,” Zelenskyy said. “The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped.” He said Ukraine must be helped to defend its skies and that it was essential to help build peace honestly and reliably.
Zelenskyy’s trips are usually kept secret until the last moment for security reasons.
In a separate incident, a LOT Airlines Boeing 737 MAX with 181 passengers on a flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw Okęcie made an unplanned landing at Warsaw Modlin airport after a bomb alert. The airport confirmed the plane landed safely, and passengers were allowed to disembark. Security services were to inspect the aircraft, and the airport remained closed until further notice. “Further actions are being carried out in accordance with safety procedures,” the airport said in a statement. The incident came a day after a WizzAir flight from London to Bulgaria was redirected to Budapest following a reported mid-air bomb threat, which proved to be a false alarm.
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Weapons used in Russian overnight attack on Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy
Source: Zelenskyy, as reported by The Guardian
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Analysis
Why This Matters
Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin underscores continued European support for Ukraine amid shifting US politics.
The Russian strike on US election day appears designed to test American attention and resolve.
The bomb scare highlights persistent security vulnerabilities in European aviation.
Background
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump escalated after a public clash at the White House in 2025. Merz, the German chancellor, has advocated for greater European defence autonomy, a push accelerated by that confrontation. The upcoming trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi represent a potential diplomatic opening.
Key Perspectives
Friedrich Merz: argues that Europe must be able to defend itself and that Germany’s defence spending surge was triggered by the White House meeting, but insists this strengthens rather than undermines NATO.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: says the Russian attack on US election day is a deliberate signal that America must notice, and calls for Western help to protect Ukrainian skies.
What to Watch
Trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi next week.
Potential further Russian escalation to test US attention.
German defence spending decisions and NATO-European cooperation.
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
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SupportedZelenskyy is to hold talks with Merz in Berlin as Russia attacks Ukraine.World news | The Guardian: “Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to make an unexpected visit to Berlin for talks with German chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of next week’s trilateral talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi.”
SupportedZelenskyy condemned Russia’s attacks as happening on the day of US congressional elections.World news | The Guardian: ““It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections.””
SupportedWarsaw Modlin airport closed after a bomb alert on a London flight.World news | The Guardian: “Warsaw Modlin airport closed after bomb threat reported on London flight”
SupportedThe Berlin visit comes ahead of trilateral talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi next week.World news | The Guardian: “ahead of next week’s trilateral talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi.”
SupportedMerz said, “He’ll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then,” during his speech.World news | The Guardian: “Merz said: “He’ll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then.””
SupportedMerz said the events of last year led him to conclude Europe must be able to defend itself.World news | The Guardian: ““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,” he said.”
SupportedZelenskyy said the attacks involved 289 drones, 59 cruise missiles and 17 ballistic missiles.World news | The Guardian: “He said the attacks – which involved 289 drones, 59 cruise missiles and 17 ballistic missiles – also hit civilian buildings”
SupportedZelenskyy said a city hospital in Kharkiv was hit and 73 people were injured.World news | The Guardian: “also hit civilian buildings, including a city hospital in Kharkiv, where 73 people were injured.”
SupportedZelenskyy said Russia had killed 29 people.World news | The Guardian: ““Tragically, the death toll has risen. Russia has killed 29 people.””
Partly supportedThe LOT flight had 181 passengers on board.World news | The Guardian: “with 181 people on board of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft”
SupportedThe airport said, “Further actions are being carried out in accordance with safety procedures.”World news | The Guardian: “The airport said in a press statement: “Further actions are being carried out in accordance with safety procedures.””