Merkel, Zelensky discuss peace terms with Trump - Trump discusses peace conditions with Merz and Selensky.
In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Alaska Summit between the USA and Russia, a preliminary meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on establishing robust security assurances for Ukraine.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, was at the helm of these discussions, joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders. The meeting was seen as a special sign of solidarity, as both parties sought to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Zelensky expressed his hopes for an immediate ceasefire and robust security guarantees for Ukraine before the summit. He also emphasised Ukraine's readiness for trilateral talks with Russia and the USA to negotiate peace and security guarantees, while refusing to cede territory.
Merz, on the other hand, implied openness to Germany’s military participation in Ukraine’s security guarantees, albeit stressing that parliamentary approval would be needed and decisions were still premature. The German Chancellor, along with other European leaders, supports participating in security guarantees that might resemble NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense obligations, despite Ukraine not being a NATO member.
Other European leaders present, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, publicly backed the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine. They discussed possible deployment of European troops under US command as part of a coalition to assure Ukraine’s protection after the war.
The NATO and US-led discussions included military planning for options like expanded air defense support and potential no-fly zones. However, many details remain unresolved due to the need for arrangements both politically acceptable to Moscow and militarily realistic. Russian opposition is significant, with demands that Russia and China have veto power over future Ukrainian security decisions, further complicating negotiations.
The one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin will take place at the military base Elmendorf-Richardson in the city of Anchorage, Alaska. The discussions led by Merz, Zelensky, and European leaders emphasize developing firm security guarantees for Ukraine that might include European troop deployments under US leadership, with a focus on preventing further Russian aggression while maintaining complex diplomatic balances.
However, Putin shows no current interest in serious negotiations, believing Russia can prevail militarily. The meetings aim to hammer out post-war security frameworks as part of broader diplomatic efforts to end the war, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges.
[1] German Chancellor Merz's position on Ukraine's security guarantees sparks controversy [2] Zelensky and European leaders discuss security guarantees for Ukraine [3] European leaders discuss potential military involvement in Ukraine's security [4] The road to the Alaska Summit: Challenges and prospects for security guarantees for Ukraine
- The discussions led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and other European leaders highlight the controversial proposal of firm security guarantees for Ukraine, which might involve European troop deployments under US leadership, aiming to prevent further Russian aggression while maintaining complex diplomatic balances.
- In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Zelensky and European leaders continue dialogues about securing robust guarantees for Ukraine's safety, focusing on trilateral talks with Russia and the USA to negotiate peace and security assurances, while avoiding ceding territory.
