German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. “Whether the Russian President will have the courage to attend such a summit remains to be seen” Merz stated Monday evening in Washington. He emphasized the need for continued diplomatic efforts to facilitate the discussion.
The Chancellor stressed that any genuine negotiations must include direct Ukrainian participation. “Such a summit is only conceivable if the weapons fall silent” he reiterated, adding that this condition remains a priority.
Merz firmly stated that no territorial concessions should be imposed upon Ukraine. He welcomed President Trump’s announcement regarding potential security guarantees for Ukraine and the intention to coordinate those with European partners.
The Chancellor travelled to Washington on Monday for a one-day summit convened to assess the outcomes of the recent Alaska meeting between President Trump and President Putin. Participants included French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
President Stubb confirmed following the meeting that the planning of a direct encounter between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy, potentially followed by a trilateral meeting also involving President Trump, was a key focus of the four-hour discussion, alongside examination of possible “security guarantees.
According to President Trump’s statements after the conversations, he spoke with President Putin and initiated preparations for a meeting between the two Presidents at a location yet to be determined. Discussions suggest the possibility of this occurring within the next two weeks.