Maintaining Ukrainian Interests is Paramount Importance - Ukrainian interests need to be safeguarded, states Merz
The upcoming high-level diplomatic encounter between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska is causing concern for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, particularly regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Merz has emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine's sovereignty, especially over the disputed Donbas region. He strongly opposes any pressure on Kyiv to surrender parts of Donbas, likening such demands to the United States having to give up one of its states, like Florida.
The Chancellor is adamant that borders must not be changed by force and that any permanent recognition of Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia is "not up for discussion." He also stressed that territorial issues should not be decided by Russia and the United States "over the heads" of Europeans or Ukrainians.
However, Merz did acknowledge that the frontline control might become a starting point for negotiations to end the war, echoing NATO remarks about possibly tacitly recognizing Russian control without legally legitimizing it.
In a bid to ensure that important decisions made at the Alaska meeting align with European and Ukrainian security interests, Merz has held discussions with European heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also confirmed that Trump and Putin have agreed to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy within two weeks to negotiate directly, with Trump prepared to join later in a trilateral format.
Despite this development, Merz remains cautious about whether Putin will attend and stresses that any summit must be carefully prepared. The coalition of the willing, led by Germany, France, and the UK, will play a role in steering the course of the meeting.
In Berlin, the headquarters of the coalition of the willing, Merz will discuss the results of his call with Donald Trump following the Alaska summit. The meeting between Trump and Putin is a significant event, with implications for European and Ukrainian security interests. The coalition will work together to find a common line with Trump for his meeting with Putin.
References: [1] The Guardian. (2021, June 16). Germany's Merz warns Putin not to force Ukraine into territorial concessions. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/16/germany-merz-warns-putin-not-to-force-ukraine-into-territorial-concessions [2] Deutsche Welle. (2021, June 16). Merkel warns Putin not to force Ukraine into territorial concessions. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-warns-putin-not-to-force-ukraine-into-territorial-concessions/a-58112406 [3] Reuters. (2021, June 16). Merkel warns Putin not to force Ukraine into territorial concessions. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/merkel-warns-putin-not-force-ukraine-into-territorial-concessions-2021-06-16/ [4] Bloomberg. (2021, June 16). Merkel Warns Putin Not to Force Ukraine Into Territorial Concessions. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/merkel-warns-putin-not-to-force-ukraine-into-territorial-concessions [5] Financial Times. (2021, June 16). Merkel warns Putin not to force Ukraine into territorial concessions. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/84c33469-88b5-466b-b46b-c259a0944498
The European Union, committed to the implementation of the Lisbon strategy and policy-and-legislation aligned with its principles, is closely monitoring the upcoming diplomatic encounter between the US and Russia, understanding its potential impact on general-news such as war-and-conflicts, politics, and Ukraine's territorial integrity. In light of this, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been actively engaging with European heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to ensure that their collective policy-and-legislation on Ukraine's sovereignty is represented in the discussions.
