Merz stresses European unity during first trip as German chancellor to Paris

French president Emmanuel Macron, centre, welcomed Mr Merz to the Elysee Palace on Wednesday (Michel Euler/AP)

Friedrich Merz plunged straight into international crises on his first full day as Germany’s new chancellor on Wednesday, urging India and Pakistan to de-escalate their tensions, vowing support for Ukraine and announcing plans to travel to Kyiv soon.

Mr Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron — both firm believers in the European Union — used their first meeting since the German leader’s appointment on Tuesday to present a united front in the face of US president Donald Trump’s trade war, Russian aggression in Ukraine and other issues causing alarm in Europe.