Merz says trilateral talks likely after Zelensky-Trump meeting

17/8/2025 6:06

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Saturday that a trilateral meeting is expected to follow Monday's meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

In an interview with public broadcaster ARD, Merz said a subsequent trilateral talk involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky, and Trump is likely to take place soon, though uncertainties remain.

On Saturday, German newspaper Bild reported that the German, British, and French governments will decide on Sunday whether, and at what level, to send representatives to the United States to join Monday's meeting.

Commenting on the Alaska summit on Friday, Merz said on social media platform X that it was "good news" that there were no territorial negotiations between Putin and Trump conducted over the heads of Ukraine and the European Union.

Merz said the talks will continue and the Europeans will play a role in the process.