Merz: expectations of Ukraine summit exceeded
Following the consultations at the White House, Federal Chancellor Merz expressed satisfaction. He sees progress on the path towards peace in Ukraine.
Washington (dpa) ) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (photo) has delivered a positive verdict on the Ukraine summit at the White House in Washington. “My expectations were not only met but actually exceeded,” Merz said after the talks.
These were “momentous days for Ukraine and for Europe,” he added. The discussion with US President Donald Trump had been very open, Merz said, adding that genuine negotiations could only take place at a summit in which Ukraine itself took part. “Such a summit is only conceivable if the guns fall silent,” stressed the Federal Chancellor.
Merz said that the White House consultations had involved intense debate about security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace agreement. “We very much welcomed President Trump’s announcement to give security guarantees to Ukraine,” said Merz, adding that
the question of who would take part in these security guarantees, and to what extent, still had to be discussed between the European partners and the US government. “It is absolutely clear that all of Europe should be involved,” the Federal Chancellor said.