“We will always agree,” assured Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron at the end of the French president’s three-day official visit – the first of its kind in 24 years – to Germany.

Economic modernization of the European Union, trade policy and military support for Ukraine were at the center of the talks.

However, special emphasis was placed on restoring the image of unity and strength of the German-French axis.

The German chancellor and the French president do not believe that their countries’ relations are in crisis.

“We will always agree and move forward,” Emmanuel Macron said after a meeting of the Franco-German cabinet last night at Meseberg Castle, near Berlin.

“We always agree. This was the case in the past and is a safe prediction for the future”, Olaf Solz bid, on the same wavelength.

During the press conference that followed, the two leaders tried to highlight the points of identification and synergy, downplaying their differences.

On the possibility of Ukraine attacking with Western weapons – even civilian targets – on Russian soil, Mr Macron said “we must allow the Ukrainians to neutralize military bases from which missiles are fired, but not to attack other targets in Russia, especially civilian installations.”

Mr. Soltz, for his part, preferred not to be completely clear, however he stated that legally, he would not object to such an approach.

“Ukraine has every possibility for this, based on international law,” the chancellor said, denying reports that the German government wanted to ban this with weapons it supplies.

“There have never been such statements, nor will there ever be,” he stressed.

The use of weapons coming from the US, France and Germany should comply with international law, he added.

The two sides also agreed on plans to use interest income from frozen Russian assets in Europe in favor of Ukraine. “We want to give Ukraine access to additional financial resources worth billions so that it can reliably provide its defense and thus further increase the security of the whole of Europe,” they said.

The two leaders also expressed their willingness to jointly develop precision weapons. “We are ready for long-term cooperation,” assured Emmanuel Macron.

Earlier, the French president committed himself, in his address to thousands of young people in Dresden, to pan-European defense.

“We must build a common sense of security (…) We must not fall into the trap and think nationalistically, or look only to America. We as Europeans must be decisive,” he said, insisting on the position that Ukraine’s security is also directly related to Europe’s security.

“Neither Germany nor France would be safe if the law of the strongest prevailed in Ukraine,” he said, noting that Europeans must formulate an independent security and defense policy as they act as NATO allies.

According to Der Spiegel magazine, the two countries are considering cooperation to expand European defense and deterrence capabilities.

Emmanuel Macron also underlined the need to develop a new economic model, in order for Europe to become more dominant and independent in economic policy, especially in view of the competition with China and the USA.

“Europe needs a growth model for future generations,” he said, referring to an “investment shock” he sees as necessary in the EU to curb capital flight to the US, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence research.

The French president referred to the “Capital Markets Union” and the regulation of common tax standards and insolvency law in the EU, while reiterating his proposal to double the EU budget and take on mutual debt, such as with the NextGenEU fund, which has come to fruition during the pandemic.

Chancellor Soltz, for his part, appeared cautious on the matter, reminding that the resources of this fund have not yet been exhausted.

There was also a difference of opinion on European trade policy: Germany is seeking to finalize the agreement with Mercosur in South America, which has so far been blocked by Paris.

Emmanuel Macron also wants stronger EU protection measures against China and the US – Germany’s two biggest trading partners.

Concluding his speech in Dresden, Mr Macron said that “France is counting on Germany and relying on it”.

“Europe can count on us. Long live Europe!” he exclaimed, rousing the crowd, as well as Federal Chancellor Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was accompanying him: he rushed to hug him.