German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed that US President Donald Trump played a pivotal role in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expected within the next two weeks. Merz, who was among the European leaders visiting Washington to demonstrate support for Kyiv, described the phone call between Trump and Putin as a decisive breakthrough, crediting it with moving the peace process forward at a delicate moment in the war.
Speaking to reporters, Merz explained that Trump had spoken to Putin during a pause in the Washington summit and secured his agreement for a meeting with Zelenskyy. He added that Trump intended to extend an invitation for a potential trilateral meeting soon afterward, one that could mark the beginning of more structured negotiations to end the war. However, Merz cautioned that Putin’s willingness to fully commit to such talks remained uncertain, suggesting that additional persuasion and diplomatic pressure would be required to bring the Russian leader to the table.
The German chancellor underscored the importance of Europe’s involvement, insisting that security guarantees for Ukraine should not be limited to American support alone but must be shared across the continent. He praised the solidarity shown by European leaders in Washington, arguing that a collective European role was essential both for Kyiv’s protection and for the credibility of any long-term peace framework. At the same time, Merz acknowledged the readiness of the United States to contribute significantly, reinforcing the sense that a joint Euro-American front was emerging as a central element of the negotiations.
