08/17/2025August 17, 2025
Merz, European leaders to join Trump-Zelenskyy talks
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for peace talks with US President Donald Trump, the German government said Sunday.
The talks, in Washington D.C, on Monday, will also be attended by other European leaders, including the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive arm.
French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO chief Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni will also travel to Washington.
“The talks will address, among other things, security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. This includes maintaining pressure on sanctions,” the German government said.
The talks follow a much-anticipated summit between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, aimed at bringing the war to an end.
Despite Trump’s warm welcome for the Kremlin leader, the meeting produced no breakthrough on halting the war.
https://p.dw.com/p/4z7JL
