US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany’s Merz says
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (above) said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would speak to European leaders before visiting Washington.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Friedrich Merz stated the US is ready to offer security guarantees for Ukraine, following briefings from Donald Trump on his talks with Vladimir Putin.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet Donald Trump in Washington on August 18, with a three-way meeting planned to pursue a peace agreement.
- Merz noted Russia seems ready to negotiate based on the current front lines, which is a significant shift from claiming unheld territories.
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BERLIN – The US is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Aug 16, a day after a summit in Alaska
“And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone,” Mr Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF, after being briefed together with other European leaders by Mr Trump on his talks with Mr Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet Mr Trump on Aug 18 in Washington, after which a three-way meeting between Mr Putin, Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky should be held as soon as possible with the aim of reaching a peace agreement, Mr Merz said.
“If that works out, it is worth more than a ceasefire,” he said.
Mr Merz said Mr Trump had indicated that Russia seemed ready to negotiate based on the front lines of the conflict, rather than the borders of Ukrainian regions it claims.
“This is a huge difference because Russia is claiming territories that it hasn’t occupied yet,” he said.
Speaking separately to German broadcaster n-tv, Mr Merz said he did not think Mr Zelensky would face as difficult a time in Washington with Mr Trump as he had in February, when the two leaders clashed
Mr Merz said Mr Zelensky would on Aug 17 talk to European leaders, who would help him prepare for the meeting.
“We’ll give a few good pieces of advice,” he said.
Mr Merz told ZDF that while it was important that Europe stand united, the US would for the time being continue to play the decisive role in the war, which has raged since 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
“The American President has the power both militarily and via appropriate sanctions and tariffs to ensure that Russia moves more than it currently does,” he said. REUTERS
