German Chancellor Merz demands Europe’s place at the table as President Trump presses Ukraine talks
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Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Europe cannot be sidelined in any Ukraine peace deal, sharply criticizing the U.S. invitation to President Vladimir Putin for the G20 and insisting that Ukraine itself must be directly involved.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe must help shape any peace agreement for Ukraine as President Donald Trump renews efforts to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, Merz emphasized that crucial matters such as sanctions and security arrangements cannot be settled behind Europe’s back and require European involvement.
"Europe must and wants to play a role in this process," Merz said.
Zelenskyy added that a settlement cannot exclude Ukraine’s future EU membership or its access to the bloc’s security infrastructure, noting that the United States and Russia have no right to decide Ukraine’s EU status without Europe’s support.
The remarks came ahead of U.S.-brokered talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi and a European Commission meeting on Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. Merz also condemned the U.S. decision to invite President Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, calling it "completely unacceptable" for major powers to discuss Ukraine’s fate without Kyiv in the room.
"If President Trump were to decide to invite the Russian president, then Ukraine must be the first topic of discussion. And if Ukraine is discussed, then the president of Ukraine must be seated at the table," Merz said.
Merz announced that Germany will increase aid to help Ukraine through the winter and urged all European nations to accept their responsibility instead of relying on Washington to carry the burden alone. He also said Germany will host a "Coalition of the Willing" meeting on November 19 to coordinate additional military support and discuss security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing shortages in air-defence interceptors and a new support package for Ukraine’s fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. Later at the Berlin Security Conference, he warned that a shrinking U.S. role would demand a stronger European presence, stating, "And without Germany, this is impossible."