German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump that Europe will not support any agreement to end the war in Ukraine if European countries do not take part in shaping it.
Merz made the statement during a briefing following talks with Trump at the White House.
Details
During the meeting, Merz called for stronger pressure on Moscow. He argued that only more decisive action from Washington can force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to make concessions.
The chancellor stressed that the war must end for good, not pause to let Russia regroup and rebuild its forces. He also said Moscow drags out the process and acts against the intentions of the American president.
Merz emphasized that any peace deal without European participation will lack both legitimacy and durability. He said Trump understands that lasting peace requires Europe’s support. The chancellor added that European countries must join the U.S.-mediated negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
The meeting in Washington marked the first time a European leader met with Trump since the United States launched its operation in Iran.
Context
On February 18, Geneva hosted another round of trilateral talks in the Ukraine–U.S.–Russia format aimed at ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the parties discussed military and political tracks separately.
Zelenskyy reported progress in the military track, particularly on U.S. involvement in monitoring a potential ceasefire. However, he said the political track stalled due to the position of the Russian delegation.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Zelenskyy stated Ukrainian forces will not withdraw from Donbas. He said the government will not abandon 200,000 citizens there, as Russia demands. According to Zelenskyy, the region offers some of the strongest defensive lines, and a withdrawal would open the way for Russian forces to advance toward central Ukraine.
