Berlin, Aug 13 (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Berlin on Wednesday to engage in discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European and U.S. leaders. These talks come in anticipation of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, as announced by the German government.
Merz has organized a series of virtual meetings for Wednesday, aiming to ensure the perspectives of European and Ukrainian leaders are considered ahead of a summit from which they have been excluded.
Zelenskyy will first meet with European leaders to prepare for a subsequent virtual meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. This will precede a call among leaders of the “coalition of the willing” — countries committed to overseeing any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
On Wednesday, Merz expressed his commitment to supporting Ukraine in developing its own long-range missile systems, free from Western-imposed restrictions on usage and targeting, as Kyiv continues to resist Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskyy’s last visit to Berlin was in late May.
Europe’s Concerns Trump has indicated a desire to gauge Russian President Vladimir Putin’s seriousness about resolving the ongoing war, now in its fourth year. He characterized Friday's summit as "a feel-out meeting” to assess Putin's intentions.
However, Trump has disillusioned European allies by suggesting Ukraine may have to concede some Russian-occupied areas. He has also remarked that Russia must be open to land swaps, though it remains unclear what concessions Putin might be willing to make.
European allies have advocated for Ukraine’s participation in any peace talks, concerned that excluding Kyiv could benefit Moscow.
On Monday, Trump avoided committing to Zelenskyy’s inclusion in his conversations with Putin and downplayed the necessity of Zelenskyy’s role in pursuing peace.
Following Friday's summit, Trump mentioned the possibility of arranging a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, or potentially a tripartite meeting including “Putin and Zelenskyy and me.”
The Europeans and Ukraine remain cautious, wary that Putin, who has waged the most significant European land conflict since 1945 and has leveraged Russia’s energy power to intimidate the European Union, might secure advantageous concessions while establishing a peace framework without their involvement.
The prevailing fear among many European nations is that Putin might target them next if he prevails in Ukraine.
Kyiv’s Firm Stance Zelenskyy declared on Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to relinquish control of the remaining 30 percent of the Donetsk region as part of a ceasefire agreement, a suggestion he staunchly declined.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to cede any territory it controls, viewing such actions as unconstitutional and merely paving the way for future Russian incursions.
He criticized the diplomatic talks led by the U.S. for failing to address key Ukrainian demands, including security guarantees against future Russian aggression and the inclusion of Europe in negotiations.
Since Trump reassumed office, his administration has removed the leverage of Ukraine’s NATO membership — a demand of Putin’s — and signaled that the EU and Ukraine must now manage European security, with America diverting its focus elsewhere.
Trump has consistently pressured his NATO allies over defense spending and has been relentless in trade negotiations, raising tariffs on most EU imports to 15 percent, citing U.S. national security concerns.
Senior EU officials suspect that Trump seeks merely a ceasefire in Ukraine, likely prioritizing broader U.S. geostrategic interests and great power dynamics, with an eye on boosting business with Russia and rehabilitating Putin. (AP)
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