New German initiative in the diplomatic struggle over Ukraine's future! Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has convened a virtual summit on Russia's war against Ukraine this Wednesday. According to the Chancellor's plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump will also be present.
Merz is planning a conference call with the heads of state and government of the leading European NATO states, as well as Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the Ukrainian President, in the early afternoon.
One hour later, the results of the joint consultations will be presented to US President Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance. The goal: to bring a common transatlantic stance to Friday's mega-summit, 48 hours before the Trump-Putin summit.
BILD has already learned the topics of the Chancellor’s virtual Ukraine summit:
The discussion will focus on ways to increase pressure on Russia, the order of the negotiating meetings starting Friday, Ukrainian territory that could be exchanged if necessary, and guarantees for Kyiv to prevent Russia from simply advancing further westward from the newly acquired territories.
According to BILD information, Chancellor Friedrich Merz was able to persuade the American Donald Trump to participate in the virtual summit because the two maintain an excellent relationship.
▶︎ The two heads of government also speak unofficially on the phone relatively frequently, as Trump considers and respects Merz as an"underdog" (outsider) in German politics. Trump appreciates that Merz ran for party chairmanship three times before finally achieving his goal. Furthermore, the US billionaire sees former businessman Merz not as part of the German"establishment," but as someone who—like himself—is shaking up politics from the outside.
Chancellor Merz will not participate in the video summit from Berlin, as he is currently on vacation and will join the telephone and video conference from there.
Zelenskyy expressed optimism on Monday."Now is the moment when there is a real chance to achieve peace," the Ukrainian president wrote on X."Communication with the heads of state and government is running practically around the clock – we are in constant contact."
