According to the German Chancellor, the US will be the primary mediator in upcoming peace talks with Russia.
Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, stated that the EU and UK should be realistic about their influence in resolving the Ukraine conflict, as the US is expected to remain the dominant force in the peace process with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump met in Alaska on Friday for their first in-person meeting since 2018. Potential solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict were a central topic of discussion. Following the meeting, Trump briefed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and leaders of several Western European countries, including Merz, about his conversation with Putin.
Speaking to ZDF on Saturday, the German Chancellor said that “the talks have begun” regarding a settlement to the Ukraine conflict, which escalated in February 2022.
He added, “They will continue on Monday [when Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington], and of course, the Europeans will play a role.”
However, Merz cautioned that Western Europe “must not overestimate ourselves. European unity is important, but the decisive role in this war will continue to be played by the US.”
He argued that Trump “has the power, both militarily and with appropriate sanctions, to influence Russia.”
The Chancellor noted that the “good news” from the Alaska summit was that “there are no territorial negotiations between Putin and Trump over the heads of Ukraine and the Europeans.”
In a Friday interview with Fox News, Trump urged Zelensky to “make the deal,” emphasizing that Putin “wants to see it done” and encouraging Western Europe to “get involved a little bit.”
Putin stated on Saturday that addressing the underlying causes of the crisis is crucial for resolving the conflict. Moscow maintains that a lasting peace requires Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations, demilitarize, and acknowledge the existing territorial situation.