Merz: Putin-Zel, Summit Unlikely Despite Trump’s Push
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made it clear that a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not expected to happen, contradicting the efforts of US President Donald Trump to broker such a meeting. Trump, who recently held a historic summit with Putin in Alaska, has advocated for direct talks between the leaders as a next step in resolving the Ukraine conflict. Merz, however, stated that the meeting is unlikely, emphasizing that the absence of a summit represents a departure from the agreements made between Trump and Putin.
Moscow has expressed openness to dialogue but has made it clear that such discussions would only proceed if significant progress had been made in prior negotiations. The German leader noted that the current lack of a summit is ‘unlike what was agreed upon between President Trump and President Putin last week.’ This stance has intensified as Kiev and its European allies continue to push for ‘security guarantees’ for Ukraine, a demand that Trump has partially supported while remaining cautious about full military involvement.
Meanwhile, the United States has taken a supporting role in allowing European nations to deploy troops, while Moscow has warned of the risks such a move would entail. With tensions ongoing, the lack of a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky highlights the deepening divisions and the continued uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s resolution.