German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new diplomatic initiative aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. He called on Russia to take the opportunity to establish peace three and a half years after the start of the full-scale invasion.
The leader of the German government stated that Berlin, in close coordination with European allies and Ukraine, has developed a path to a peaceful settlement. A key element of this initiative is a proposal for talks between the Presidents of the United States and Russia, which are to be held in Alaska.
'We expect President Putin to accept President Trump's proposal for a conversation and enter negotiations without preconditions,' Merz stated.
The Chancellor emphasized that the ultimate goal is to organize a peace summit, which must include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At such a summit, according to Merz, a ceasefire regime should be agreed upon and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine developed.
Friedrich Merz placed particular emphasis on the inviolability of Ukrainian sovereignty, stressing that any territorial concessions are unacceptable without the consent of Ukraine itself. 'Territorial issues can only be resolved with the consent of Ukraine,' he stated.
The Chancellor also mentioned that these positions were communicated to President Trump 'with clarity and determination' ahead of his meeting in Anchorage. Friedrich Merz confirmed that he is in constant contact with the American leader and expressed hope that 'President Trump can now take a significant step towards peace,' relying on the joint and coordinated position of European partners who assured their unwavering support for Ukraine.
Earlier, the President of the European Council outlined Trump's priorities for negotiations with Putin in Alaska.