Germany's Merz: Zelenskyy must be involved in Trump-Putin meeting
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must be involved in the 15 August meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Source: Merz on TV channel ARD, as reported by European Pravda, citing German TV news service Tagesschau
Details: Merz announced that he will speak with Trump by phone on Sunday 10 August regarding his planned meeting with Putin in Alaska.
Quote: "We are intensively preparing for this meeting at the European level together with the US government. And we hope and expect that the Ukrainian government, President Zelenskyy, will be involved in this meeting…
In any case, we cannot accept that territorial issues between Russia and America are discussed or even decided over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians."
Details: Merz added, "I assume the US government sees it the same way, which is why there is such close coordination."
He said that what happens in Alaska on Friday must have consequences: "Either in terms of increasing pressure on Russia, or Russia itself acknowledging that this war cannot be continued."
The chancellor said he hopes that the high-level meeting will also lead to a decision on a ceasefire in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Background:
- The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August amid media reports that Washington and Moscow are apparently seeking an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that could cement Russia’s occupation of part of its territory.
- In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine".
- On the night of 9-10 August, a joint statement addressed to Trump and Putin was released by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK, the president of the European Commission, and the president of Finland.
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