Rubio also spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, congratulating him on his recent appointment. They discussed the vitality of the U.S.-German bilateral relationship and the importance of working together to advance the many shared interests between the two countries.
They have also discussed the May 10 meeting in Kyiv between Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the "shared goal" of ending Russian aggression.
During the Kyiv meeting, the leaders of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” held a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, confirming Ukraine’s readiness for a full ceasefire starting May 12 and urged Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. More than 20 world leaders joined the initiative.
The following day, Zelenskyy challenged Russia’s dictator Vladimir Putin to a face-to-face meeting in Turkey on May 15.