Ukraine’s Zelensky to join Germany’s Merz in Berlin for video call with Trump

Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press briefing following phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Ukraine hopes the meeting will serve - at least partially - as a European counterweight to the summit in Alaska.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Follow topic:

BERLIN - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Berlin on Aug 13 to join German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a video call with US President Donald Trump, a government source told Reuters.

Mr Zelensky will be in the German capital on Aug 13, Ukraine’s presidential spokesman said. “The president is working in Berlin today,” the spokesman said, adding that a bilateral meeting with Mr Merz is planned too.

The Bild newspaper first reported on the visit, which comes as Mr Merz hosts meetings ahead of

Mr Trump's planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug 15 in Alaska.

Mr Merz’s talks on Aug 13 will also involve the leaders of Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Poland and the European Union, as well as Nato.

Ukraine hopes the meeting will serve – at least partially – as a European counterweight to the summit in Alaska, as Mr Zelensky and his backers try to drive home the perils of selling out Kyiv's interests in pursuit of a ceasefire. REUTERS

See more on