Berlin - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday, seeking further military support in Russia's recent bombing campaign despite Ukraine escalating in recent Russian bombing campaigns, despite our US-led efforts ending the war.

Germany has always been Ukraine's second largest supplier of military aid. Since becoming Germany’s leader three weeks ago, Merz has been trapped in diplomatic efforts to ensure a ceasefire and maintain Western support for Ukraine. European leaders accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in the US-led peace talks.

German Foreign Secretary Johann Wadephul will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine is ready to hold peace talks at the highest level, including a trilateral meeting with himself, Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.

"We are ready to meet at the leadership level. Both know this, and both Russia know this." Zelenskyy said he will accept any configuration of talks, whether it is a trilateral meeting or a separate meeting with Trump.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia thanked Trump for his mediation.

"At the same time, there are many nuances that cannot be ignored, and neither side will sacrifice because of the interests of its country," Peskov told reporters. "Just like the United States, it is crucial for us to have Russia's national interests."

He said Moscow will deliver its promised memorandum "soon" within a framework of a peaceful settlement.

Melz said on Monday that Germany and other major allies no longer impose any scope on weapons provided by Ukraine as it strives to resist a full-scale Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.

Melz's government has not said whether Taurus' long-range cruise missiles will be provided to Ukraine, which his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, refused, and Merz advocated as an opposition leader. The government said unlike Scholz's government, it will no longer provide full details of the weapons provided to Ukraine, citing "strategic ambiguity."

The Taurus missile has a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). The missiles made by Germany and Sweden equipped with stealth technology will be able to reach Russian targets from deep in Ukrainian soil, including the Black Sea. Ukraine hopes these missiles complement long-range storm shadow bombs from nearly the same scalp cruise missiles as Britain and France.

Zelenskyy said he plans to discuss the supply and use of long-range weapons in a talk with Merz. The Ukrainian leader said on Tuesday he has not received any signs from Germany that their policy of limiting Western weapons to Russian targets has changed.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs $30 billion in additional financing to help it compete with Russia for the production of drones and missiles. Russia's goal is to produce 300-350 drones a day, he said.

Meanwhile, the battle continued along the frontline of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), with Ukrainian troops fighting against larger opponents. Zelenskyy claimed on Tuesday that Russia mobilized up to 45,000 men per month, while Ukraine mobilized 25,000-27,000 people.

Both sides continue to conduct in-depth strikes. Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine on Sunday.

Russia's defense ministry said Russia's air defense volume reduced by 296 Ukrainian drones, surpassing 13 Russian regions, and Russia's defense agency appears to be one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks in the war.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is increasing its domestic production of drones and missiles. He said late Tuesday that Ukraine hopes European countries can help it invest in the manufacturing of attack drones, air defense interceptors, cruise missiles and ballistic systems.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the air defense shot down the Ukrainian 33 drone and was heading towards the capital.

Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said 42 drones were knocked down. He said drone debris damaged three residential buildings in Triskoye village, but no one was injured.

Moscow Airport has postponed or transferred hundreds of flights.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Wednesday that Russian forces used five Iskander ballistic missiles, one missile and 88 drones to launch an attack on Ukraine overnight. The air defense forces shot down 34 drones and 37 drones were stuck.

Ukrainian railway infrastructure and equipment in Ukraine, Donetsk and Sumi regions were also criticized overnight, Ukrainian national railway company Ukraine Zlinit (Ukrzaliznytsia). No casualties.

In the Kharkif area, rail traffic was temporarily suspended so that police and first responders could remove debris from duvets landing on the tracks. In Sloviansk, Donetsk, the attack shattered the windows of the station building and drone debris slightly damaged the train.

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Hanna Arhirova and Samya Kullab contributed to this report in Kyiv, Ukraine.

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Follow the AP's report on the war in Ukraine