German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged US President Donald Trump to avoid surprises during upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine in China. Merz expressed concern that these discussions could resemble a previous meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, which European leaders had hoped would help end the war in Ukraine. He called on the US to remain part of “Team Europe” and “Team Ukraine.”
Merz is also advocating for EU leaders to commit funding to support Ukraine in their long-term budget discussions. He noted that while there is broad support for this proposal, an agreement is not yet close. He stated that substantive peace negotiations involving European participation are expected to start soon, rejecting Russia’s push to place Europe’s security architecture at the center of talks. Ultimately, the discussions should focus on ensuring Ukraine’s security after achieving peace.
With information from Reuters
