German Chancellor places red lines ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was a very happy “” that Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky could join European leaders in order to develop a video call with American President Donald Trump.

He stressed that it was significant that this call was made just today, on August 13th, because construction of the Berlin Wall began on that date in 1961.

So, now, 64 years later, we know it was a symbol of the European division, of the German division, and we managed to overcome this split”, Merz said.

But Russia's war in Ukraine has “re-opened the wounds of European division”.

He followed by saying Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, where “important decisions could be made”.

“We Europeans, therefore, do everything we can to influence this meeting to go in the right direction”, he added, stressing that he hopes Trump will succeed.

Referring to the meeting with European leaders and the newly concluded Trump, Merz explained that they “discussed in detail” about various issues, and that the talks will continue at the Coalition of Willing meeting, which is expected to begin soon.

The message to Trump was that the security interests of Ukraine and Europe “should be guaranteed”, and those “agreed to” for the goals of talks with Putin.

He added that he made clear to Trump that Ukraine should be part of any future meeting, the ceasefire should come before the start of the negotiations, recognition of the territories occupied by Russia is not on the table, Ukrainian forces should have the freedom to defend their country, and broader negotiations should be part of a <x0-traditionary”

The German Chancellor stated that Europe knows Ukraine “needs security guarantees” and “that we will have to support the Ukrainian Army to protect their country”.

Details of these guarantees were not discussed today with Trumpom, but this would have to be “s or the way to peace”.