Germany calls for allies’ meet ahead of Trump-Putin summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday invited US President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, NATO's chief and several European leaders to virtual meetings on Wednesday ahead of a US-Russia summit as Europe and Kyiv worry a deal could be made without them.

Neither Zelenskyy nor European leaders have been invited to Friday’s summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The German chancellery said in a statement that the virtual talks will focus on “further options for action to put pressure on Russia” as well as “preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claim”. The EU chief and leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Italy and Poland are set to join.

‘Russia not ready for peace’

After he spoke to the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia to mobilise support today, Zelenskyy said Russia was preparing its troops for new offensives instead of getting ready to stop the war.