Zelensky and Merz Brief on Trump-Putin Summit and Ukraine's Peace Principles

Pre-Summit Briefing and European Unity

• 🇩🇪 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Berlin for a briefing ahead of President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin.
• 🇪🇺 The meeting emphasized European unity and coordination, with prior consultations involving France, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, and Finland, as well as EU leaders.
• 🇺🇦 Zelensky was involved from the outset, underscoring Ukraine's central role in discussions concerning peace.

European Stance on the Alaska Summit

• 🎯 European leaders aim to set the stage for a successful meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, focusing on European and Ukrainian security interests.
• 💰 Germany has mobilized approximately 40 billion euros in military aid since 2022, and the EU has implemented 18 sanctions packages against Russia.
• 🤝 The message to President Trump was clear: if the US pursues peace in Ukraine that respects European and Ukrainian interests, they have full support.

Key Principles for Negotiations

• 🗣️ Ukraine must be at the negotiating table for any follow-up meetings.
• 🕊️ A ceasefire must be the initial step, followed by framework agreements on essential elements.
• 🗺️ Territorial issues should use the current contact line as a starting point, with no recognition of Russian occupations and adherence to the principle of inviolable borders.
• 🛡️ Robust security guarantees for Kyiv are essential, ensuring Ukraine's armed forces can defend its sovereignty with continued Western support.
• 🌐 Negotiations must be part of a joint transatlantic strategy, maintaining strong support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.

Zelensky's Perspective on Peace and Negotiations

• ✊ Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine's position on its territorial integrity has not changed and is rooted in its constitution.
• 🚫 He stated that Putin does not want peace but aims to occupy Ukraine, and that sanctions must be maintained and potentially strengthened if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire.
• 🤝 Zelensky expressed hope that the Alaska meeting would focus on an immediate ceasefire and that he would discuss the outcomes with President Trump after the summit.

Security Guarantees and Future Steps

• 🇺🇸 Discussions touched upon the need for security guarantees for Ukraine, with the understanding that the Ukrainian army requires continued training and support.
• 🇪🇺 The specifics of these guarantees and the potential involvement of European nations were not detailed but are expected to follow if a path to peace opens.
• ✅ The current positive atmosphere and unified stance among partners are seen as an important step, with leaders emphasizing that key decisions will be made at the leader level, with Ukraine's full involvement.