Merz and Selenskyj as well as the heads of the state and government of other European countries had advised Trump on his meeting with Putin planned for Friday. The US President then spoke of a “very good” conversation. He expressed hope that after his summit with the Russian President, he was able to organize a rapid triple meeting with Selenskyj.
“Ukraine has to sit at the table as soon as there are follow -up meetings,” said Chancellor Merz. Selenskyj said that he had agreed with Trump that he would inform him by phone after meeting Putin.
As part of the so-called coalition of the willing, the European supporters of Ukraine agreed to four common points of view: a ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace negotiations, long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, no legal recognition of the areas occupied by Russia and sharper Russia sanctions, Putin should reject a arms.
“There should be a ceasefire, there should be robust security guarantees. President Trump has also confirmed that today,” said Selenskyj in Berlin. Merz also said that the negotiations should include “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine and “part of a common transatlantic strategy”. However, the Chancellor said that it was “not the subject of the conversation today” that “what security guarantees on the part of which states could look like”.
The coalition of the willing under the direction of Germany, France and Great Britain agreed to “take on an active role”. “No restrictions for the Ukrainian armed forces or their cooperation with third countries should be imposed,” said the Wednesday’s explanation. Russia should also not be able to veto against an EU or NATO membership of Ukraine.
Ukraine is ready for negotiations in regional issues, said Chancellor Merz. Then the current front line must be the starting point – “and a legal recognition of Russian staff is not up for debate”. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared possible a “factual” recognition of the Ukrainian areas partly occupied by Russia as part of a peace agreement. Trump had previously brought a “area exchange” into play, whereupon Kiev rejected an assignment of his own territory.
After the video conference, France’s President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that such area questions “are only negotiated by the Ukrainian president” – not by Trump and Putin. “There are currently no serious plans for an area of territory on the table,” said Macron.
Selenskyj himself called for sanctions to increase the pressure on Putin. In the explanation of the coalition of the willing, there was talk of an “reinforcement” of the existing sanctions if the talks on Friday fail. US President Trump once again threatened Putin with “very serious consequences”. However, he did not speak of possible sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.
Merz described the video counters with Trump and other European heads of state and government as “really very constructive and good conversation”. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke of a “very good phone call”. NATO Secretary General Rutte praised Trump’s “leadership role” and his “close cooperation with the allies”.
The British Prime Minister Keir Strander admitted the meeting on Friday a “feasible” chance of a ceasefire. “We now have this opportunity thanks to the work that the president did,” he said with a view to Trump.
“There is hope of peace in Ukraine,” said Chancellor Merz. At the meeting of Trump and Putin in Alaska, however, “fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests would have to be preserved”.
Trump and Putin want to meet in the US state of Alaska on Friday. From the worry that the two presidents could make decisions about the heads of Ukraine and their western allies and force Ukraine to concessions, Merz invited to a series of video conferences on Wednesday.
Initially, a switch from Merz, Starrmer and Macron with Rutte, was scheduled for Leyen, EU Council President António Costa and Selenskyj. The participants then advised Trump. This was followed by a conference of the “coalition of the willing” organized by Germany, France and Great Britain, in which, according to government circles, Canada and Japan as well as US Vice President JD Vance took part.
JHM/KAS
