India, April 15 -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz assured Kyiv of Berlin's continued support on its path to EU accession, deepening their military and political cooperation and also expanding their relationship to a strategic partnership.

Merz greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warmly outside the Chancellery in central Berlin ahead of the first official German-Ukrainian government consultations in years.

Bilateral relations would be elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, Merz announced during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart.

The chancellor also reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine's future EU membership, while acknowledging that accession is unlikely in the short term....