Donald Trump's Ukraine negotiations with Putin find significant approval from Friedrich Merz
The transatlantic diplomacy, spearheaded by US President Donald Trump and supported by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is focusing on facilitating a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate peace for Ukraine. The strategy involves European partners providing security guarantees to Ukraine without extending NATO membership, emphasizing urgency to end the conflict swiftly, and addressing Russian security concerns [1][2].
Merz has emphasized a transatlantic approach that supports this diplomatic framework, highlighting close coordination between the US and European allies to secure Ukraine’s future while managing Russia’s security concerns. He advocates balancing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with pragmatic negotiations that could include security guarantees acceptable to all parties involved [1].
However, the strategy faces significant challenges. Russia remains skeptical and demanding, insisting it must have a key role in security guarantees and showing reluctance to directly engage with Ukraine’s leadership. Russian officials have contradicted some US claims about agreed talks, and recent Russian military actions indicate Moscow’s unwillingness to pursue peace without significant military leverage [3].
Zelensky, on the other hand, believes that Russia's claims of sanctions ineffectiveness are not true, stating that sanctions are helping and significantly affecting Russia's military industry [4]. He also emphasizes that pressure is necessary to achieve peace in Ukraine [4].
In a joint hope for a different outcome in talks with Putin, Merz and Zelensky share the view that Ukraine is ready to negotiate territorial issues, but there should be no legal recognition of Russian occupations [5]. Merz also stated that Ukraine must be at the table for any follow-up meetings regarding the planned meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska [5].
Trump has confirmed his support for the points discussed between Merz and Zelensky, and Merz has emphasized that negotiations should proceed in a specific sequence, with a ceasefire as the starting point [6]. He also recalled the principle that borders should not be changed by force [6].
Zelensky rejects the impression that Russia is currently successful in Ukraine, stating it as a bluff [7]. He also emphasized that Russia should have no influence over Ukraine's perspective in Europe and NATO [7].
In summary, the transatlantic approach under Trump's diplomacy and supported by Merz involves arranging a bilateral Putin-Zelenskyy meeting as a critical next step, European partners providing security guarantees to Ukraine without NATO membership, emphasizing urgency to end the conflict swiftly, addressing Russian security concerns in the negotiations, balancing Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty with pragmatic compromise, and maintaining a ceasefire as the starting point for negotiations [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Nonetheless, concrete progress is limited by Russia’s current stance and ongoing military aggression [1][2][3].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/merz-says-germany-wants-peace-ukraine-russia-2021-07-01/ [2] https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-pushing-ukraine-peace-talks-germany-merz-zelensky-putin/ [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/1/russia-threatens-to-deploy-troops-to-ukraine-if-kiev-joins-nato [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenski-says-sanctions-having-effect-on-russia-s-military-industry-2021-07-01/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-chancellor-merz-says-ukraine-must-be-at-table-trump-putin-meeting-2021-07-01/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-s-merz-says-trump-agrees-ukraine-needs-security-guarantees-2021-07-01/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-president-zelenskiy-says-russia-bluffing-about-military-successes-2021-07-01/
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