German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the first two stages of large-scale negotiations involving European leaders, Zelensky, and the US leadership have already been completed and described what he discussed with Donald Trump.
Points of attention
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz disclosed the completed stages of negotiations involving Europe, Ukraine, and the US before the Trump-Putin meeting.
- Ukraine is prepared to discuss territorial issues but stands firm on not discussing legal recognition of the occupied territories.
- Important priorities discussed by Merz and European leaders include security, conditions for negotiations, a ceasefire as a necessary initial step, and the need for reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Merz named the priorities of Europe and Ukraine before the meeting between Trump and Putin
He stated this at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.
The Chancellor noted that first, "we discussed positions in detail" with the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Poland, Finland, Italy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with the participation of Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to him, everyone was "unanimous in their assessment of the situation and also in what goal could be achieved."
After that, there was a conversation with US President Donald Trump, and after the press conference, the next stage of consultations will begin — within the circle of the "coalition of the determined."
The German Chancellor revealed what positions were conveyed in the conversation with Trump.
We have made it clear that Ukraine should be at the negotiating table if there is a next meeting after this one. We want the right sequence. That means a ceasefire first, and that should be at the very beginning. An important element could be a framework agreement that comes later.
Friedrich Merz
Chancellor of Germany
Thirdly, Ukraine is ready to discuss territorial issues, but the starting point will be the contact line... Legal recognition of the occupied territories is not under discussion.
The fourth condition was called reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, and the fifth was that the negotiations should be part of a common transatlantic strategy.
According to him, the leaders agreed that immediately after the meeting with the Kremlin leader, Trump would first inform Volodymyr Zelensky about its content, and then European leaders.
