Europe stands firm with Ukraine as Merz hails Trump's peace efforts
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced support for Ukraine in seeking a peaceful resolution to the war with Russia.
He emphasized that Ukraine can count on the steadfast solidarity of European countries.
Merz also noted that European leaders view US President Donald Trump's peacemaking initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace.
"Ukraine can count on the unwavering solidarity of Europeans in the peace process, and European leaders welcome the peacemaking efforts of US President Donald Trump," Merz said.
Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska
In the early hours of August 16, US President Donald Trump held an almost three-hour meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska in a three-on-three format. The talks focused on Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and potential paths toward a peaceful settlement.
Afterward, Trump met separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU leaders. He reaffirmed his commitment to a direct peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump promised that if negotiations with Zelenskyy succeed, a follow-up meeting with Putin would take place on August 18 to address the war further.
The discussions also focused on security guarantees for Ukraine. According to a European diplomat, the US proposed a model similar to NATO's Article 5, offering a collective response from Europe and the US in the event of new aggression against Ukraine, without formal NATO involvement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Trump's efforts in the talks with Putin represented an important step toward ending the war in Ukraine and advanced the process of a peaceful resolution.
