German Chancellor Friedrich Merz credited U.S. President Donald Trump for persuading Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to agree to a summit with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Merz, Putin consented to the meeting during a phone call with Trump, while top European leaders were in Washington to back Zelensky. Merz emphasized the need for continued persuasion to ensure Putin’s participation, revealing that negotiations could begin within two weeks at a location yet to be decided. Merz also praised Trump’s commitment to extending security guarantees for Ukraine and highlighted the united front presented by European allies in discussions with the U.S. administration.
The article originally appeared on Hindustan Times
