German chancellor: Putin–Zelenskyy meeting expected within two weeks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on August 18 that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to meet within the next two weeks. 

“The American president spoke with the Russian president on the phone and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks,” Merz told reporters after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters. 

He noted that the location of the talks had not yet been determined.

Merz was part of a delegation of European leaders who travelled to Washington to show support for Zelenskyy and discuss prospects for ending the war in Ukraine. 

“My expectations have not only been met, but exceeded,” the German leader said following the meeting at the White House. 

According to Merz, Trump had agreed to extend another invitation for a three-way meeting with European leaders after the Putin–Zelenskyy summit, “so that negotiations could truly begin.”

The chancellor also said Trump welcomed the united European stance during the talks and confirmed that discussions would now focus on providing Ukraine with security guarantees. 

“It is absolutely clear that the whole of Europe should participate,” Merz said, praising Trump’s announcement that the United States was also ready to contribute.

When asked by DW’s Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl whether Germany would be willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Merz stressed that the matter would require consultations.

“The question of who should be involved in the security guarantees and to what extent will have to be discussed with our European partners and the US government,” he said.

“What is totally clear is that all of Europe should be involved. This isn’t just about Ukraine’s territory, it’s about the political order of Europe and there, Germany has a major interest and a major responsibility,” Merz added.

Any deployment of German troops abroad would require approval from the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament.

By Sabina Mammadli