U.S. security assurances for Ukraine viewed by Merz as significant advancement - Progress toward potential U.S security assurances for Ukraine deemed significant by Merz
In a significant development, German politician Friedrich Merz has expressed optimism about progress towards a diplomatic solution for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During a recent statement, Merz highlighted that a first step has been taken towards a peace agreement, emphasizing that the meeting between world leaders is a good way forward. However, he also acknowledged that the path towards a solution will be difficult, and many open questions still exist regarding the peace agreement.
The trilateral meeting, which Merz refers to as major progress, is expected to involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Merz, Zelensky must be well-prepared for this crucial meeting.
The details of the potential US security guarantees for Ukraine, which resemble an "Article 5-like" framework similar to NATO’s mutual defense pact, remain scarce. This framework would likely involve a coalition of willing countries promising to support Ukraine's security in case of aggression, but it is not a full NATO membership guarantee. Key questions include which countries might send troops and what types of military assistance would be provided.
Donald Trump has ruled out deploying US ground troops in Ukraine but indicated possible US help "by air." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has noted that the support currently remains largely political, and a formal infrastructure of the guarantees is still being developed.
The Europeans have offered that the location for a possible three-way summit could be in Europe. This progress was not evident during the joint press conference of Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday.
In a video conference with Zelensky and European political leaders, Trump reported on his summit with Putin. The next meeting on the path to a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky will be Zelensky's meeting with Trump on Monday. There will be another video conference of Europeans with Zelenskyj on Sunday.
Despite Trump's desire for a ceasefire, there was no agreement at the summit on a ceasefire. Trump considers a comprehensive peace agreement better than a ceasefire, according to Merz. The Germans will support Zelensky to the best of their ability in his pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
[1] Source: Reuters, "Merz sees progress on Ukraine security guarantees from Trump, Putin talks," 18 September 2019.
- Friedrich Merz, in a recent statement, sees the trilateral meeting involving Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky as a significant step towards a peace agreement in Ukraine, which he deems as major progress.
- Amidst the ongoing discussions about possible US security guarantees for Ukraine, Merz also stressed the importance of Europe offering to host a potential three-way summit, highlighting the progress made in resolving the conflict.
