The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s scheduled appearance at a Berlin primary school was abruptly cancelled Friday, prompting a last-minute substitution by Minister for the Chancellery Thorsten Frei. The sudden change, according to government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, stemmed from “internal discussions and planned telephone calls regarding the situation in Ukraine”. Details about the individuals involved in and the substance of these conversations remain, according to Kornelius, to be disclosed at a later date.
Reports suggest the calls included significant figures such as former US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. The focus of these critical discussions is reportedly centered on Trump’s recently unveiled 28-point plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine and Russia.
The plan, already drawing considerable controversy, proposes substantial concessions from Kyiv as a prerequisite for ending hostilities. Most notably, the proposal includes provisions for territorial cessions by Ukraine, encompassing areas currently not under Russian control. This element alone has triggered immediate anxieties within the German political landscape and among allies, raising questions about the potential for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and emboldening further Russian aggression.
Critics argue that a policy predicated on territorial concessions risks legitimizing Russia’s illegal annexation attempts and rewards the aggressor. The nature of Trump’s involvement, especially given his history of questioning US support for Ukraine and his complex relationship with Russia, adds another layer of political instability and warrants intensified scrutiny. The German government’s silence on the specifics of the conversations is fueling speculation and raising concerns that these back-channel discussions might be shaping policy decisions without proper parliamentary oversight or public debate. The implications for transatlantic relations and the future of European security are profound and demand immediate clarification from Berlin.