Today Angela Merkel met with the presidents of France and the Ukraine, Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko, in Berlin. The theme of the day was obviously the ongoing conflict Ukriane’s east. It was a strong day for all three of the leaders: Hollande bestowed the Legion of Honor on the men who prevented a massacre on a high speed train and Merkel finally spoke out against the Nazis who are burning homes built for asylum seekers. For Poroshenko the day has historical significance: Today is the day on which Ukrainian independence (from the Soviet Union) is celebrated.
An odd welcome: A man waves the separatist flag of Novorossiya in Berlin as the motorcade carrying Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko passes by en route to Merkel’s offices.
Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko stroll towards the press conference inside the German Federal Chancellory.
The Big Picture: Francois Hollande, Angela Merkel, Petro Poroshenko. And some colleagues’ lenses.
French President Francois Hollande thinking hard.
It’s getting hot in here… Poroshenko is one sweaty man.