UKRAINE hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel today for talks ahead of official celebrations tomorrow marking 30 years since its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.

Ms Merkel travelled to Kiev from Moscow, where she held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Germany is seeking assurances that Russia will continue to pipe gas through Ukraine to the European Union. 

But the visit is seen in Kiev as an opportunity to highlight unity with the EU against Russia, with the Volodymyr Zelensky government calling a conference on the reconquest of Crimea ahead of tomorrow’s anniversary.