German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky within the next two weeks.
“We don’t yet know if President Putin will have the courage to attend such a summit—pressure is still required,” Merz said. He added that Trump was “impressed by European unity” and that discussions with Washington are now moving toward details of Ukraine’s security guarantees.
During a break in Monday’s talks, Trump reportedly spoke to Putin by phone, leading to agreement on a direct meeting between the two presidents. Trump also committed to convening a trilateral summit to “truly launch the talks.” Praising the announcement, Merz noted that the U.S. is also prepared to lend its support.