Zelensky connects with Berlin digitally - Ukrainian President Zelenskyy heading to Berlin for recorded meeting
In Berlin today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in a crucial video conference convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This meeting, scheduled for 3:00 PM, also included US President Donald Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, and key European leaders such as the French, British, Italian, Polish, and Finnish heads of state and government. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte were also present [1][2][3][5].
The purpose of the video conference was to find a common line with US President Trump before he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025. The discussions focused on further options for putting pressure on Moscow, as well as preparations for possible peace negotiations and related questions about territorial claims and security [4].
European leaders and Zelensky expressed strong concerns about potential territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia that Trump and Putin might agree on. Kyiv strictly rejects any such concessions, emphasizing that no decisions concerning Ukraine could be made without Ukrainian representation and that fundamental Ukrainian and European security interests must be safeguarded [1][3][5].
Chancellor Merz conveyed to US President Trump the need to balance diplomatic efforts with continued pressure on Russia, warning that more pressure would be necessary if Russia showed no real intent to cease hostilities [5]. Trump expressed hope for a constructive meeting with Putin but indicated some dissatisfaction with Zelensky's stance that Ukraine’s Constitution would need amendment if territory were to be exchanged in a peace deal [1].
Zelensky himself expressed skepticism that the summit would end the war, noting Moscow’s lack of interest in stopping hostilities, and highlighted the need for collective force to compel peace [2]. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has again called for security guarantees for Ukraine [6].
Following the conference with Trump, Chancellor Merz plans to discuss the results in the so-called coalition of the willing, led by Germany, France, and Britain [7]. The CDU (Christian Democratic Union) is involved in the discussions and decisions regarding the video conference and the future of Ukraine.
The German Press Agency and ARD report on the events surrounding the video conference, with Zelensky expected to arrive in Berlin around noon [8]. The video conferences with European heads of state and government were initiated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aiming to discuss the future of Ukraine before the Alaska Summit [9]. In summary, Zelensky’s participation aimed to unify European and US support, assert Ukraine’s sovereignty, and oppose any peace deal that would involve forced territorial concessions without Ukraine’s agreement prior to the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska [1][3][5].
Amidst the discussions, the European Commission is also proposing to increase the number of EU-EU partners in the field of education and training, recognizing the importance of educational and professional collaboration in modern politics. Simultaneously, policy-and-legislation and general-news outlets are closely following these geopolitical events, with updates on the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and the upcoming summit between Trump and Putin.
Meanwhile, the CDU (Christian Democratic Union), as part of the coalition of the willing, is central to the discussions and decisions surrounding the video conference and the future of Ukraine, also playing a crucial role in balancing diplomacy with sustained pressure on Russia for peace negotiations.
