Media demonstrates respect for Merz - scrutinizes Trump with suspicion - Media holds Merz in high regard and approaches Trump with caution.
In a significant diplomatic move, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted a virtual summit with European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The summit, which took place ahead of the scheduled meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, was more than just a symbolic event. One can only hope that it leads to progress in resolving the three-year-old war.
Zelensky, who traveled to Berlin for the conference, met with Merz and emphasized Ukraine's demand to be considered a NATO ally. European representatives, meanwhile, demanded a ceasefire, security guarantees for Ukraine, and Kyiv's involvement in negotiations during the meeting.
The virtual gathering was preparatory to the Trump-Putin meeting, aiming to ensure that any peace talks start with a ceasefire as the foundational step. The focus then shifts to a framework agreement and territorial negotiations, with the contact line as a starting point.
German media broadly assess this summit as a strategic attempt by Germany and European leaders to assert Ukraine’s key diplomatic position of “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” emphasize a ceasefire as the priority, and coordinate pressure on Russia.
Zelenskyy, however, highlighted skepticism about Moscow's intentions, citing previous talks that only led to increased Russian military presence and attacks. The German media portray this virtual summit as an effort to funnel European and Ukrainian influence into the U.S.-Russia dialogue, countering the risk of Ukraine being excluded from key peace decisions.
Germany's approach aligns with maintaining firm Ukraine support while advocating for a measured pathway to ending hostilities. This is seen in Chancellor Merz's emphasis on sequencing ceasefire first, then negotiations on territory and other security guarantees.
As the war in Ukraine continues, the focus remains on finding a peaceful solution. The 'security guarantees' mentioned by Merz are the remaining demands of Ukraine. The European Plan B should be prepared in case diplomatic efforts fail.
In the meantime, the world watches as neither Russia nor Ukraine has won the three-year war, but Russia is at an advantage. It is uncertain how much of these demands Trump will bring to the table during his meeting with Putin. The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance.
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