French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
BERLIN (Reuters) - All members of the European Union must boost their defence spending to fill gaps in the bloc's capabilities and secure continued support for Ukraine, Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Paris on Wednesday.
"Only in this way can we gradually close our capability gaps and collectively support Ukraine," Merz said at a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the leaders promised a new start for Europe driven by Franco-German cooperation.
It was Merz's first foreign trip as chancellor, with a stop in Poland planned after France as the conservative leader seeks to renew relations with Germany's top allies.
(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, writing by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Seythal)
