German Chancellor Joins Call On U.S.-Russian Ukraine Plan As Deadly Strikes Hit Zaporizhzhia

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

JOHANNESBURG/KYIV/BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was expected to join a high-level phone call Friday on a U.S.-Russian proposal to end the war in Ukraine, amid escalating deadly attacks in the embattled nation, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Merz cancelled a planned appearance at another event and instructed his chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, to stand in for him so he could participate in the call, sources said. Other world leaders were also set to join the conversation, Worthy News learned.

The diplomatic push came as Russia launched another deadly strike on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia late Thursday, killing at least five people and injuring three, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Images he posted online showed buildings in flames and debris scattered across city streets after what he described as an attack involving guided bombs.

Amid the violence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed continued backing for Kyiv, telling G20 attendees in Johannesburg that the European Union would “keep on supporting Ukraine as the victim of an aggression.”

Von der Leyen, who leads the European Union’s executive branch, stressed that the bloc’s sanctions were hurting Russia’s economy.

She pledged that Ukraine could rely on Brussels because Moscow’s invasion “violated” core principles of the United Nations Charter.

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