Merz Urges Trump To Avoid Surprises In Ukraine Talks With Putin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid making unexpected decisions about Ukraine during his expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China. Merz warned against a repeat of the previous Anchorage talks and stressed that Europe and Ukraine should remain directly involved in negotiations over the war and wider European security. He also rejected Russia's call for discussions on a new European security architecture, saying existing security arrangements already provide the framework for Europe.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid making any unexpected decisions about Ukraine during his expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week.
Speaking on Friday on the sidelines of European Union meetings in Dublin, Merz said European leaders were concerned that the upcoming US Russian discussions could produce an outcome that leaves Europe and Ukraine with limited influence over decisions affecting their security.
Trump is expected to meet Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China. The discussions could provide another opportunity for the US and Russia to discuss the war in Ukraine and possible negotiations to end the conflict.

MERZ WARNS AGAINST A REPEAT OF THE ANCHORAGE TALKS

Merz referred to concerns among European leaders about a possible repeat of what he called a “second Anchorage moment.”
Trump and Putin previously held talks in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2026. European governments were concerned about the direction and outcome of those discussions, particularly because of fears that major decisions concerning Ukraine could be discussed without sufficient European involvement.
Merz therefore called on Trump to keep Europe and Ukraine closely involved in the diplomatic process.
He said the message from Europe to Washington was clear: there should be no surprises, and the United States should continue working with what he described as “Team Europe” and “Team Ukraine.”
His comments reflect broader European concerns that Washington and Moscow could reach understandings on Ukraine or European security without European governments having a direct role in shaping them.

EUROPE WANTS A PLACE AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE

European leaders have been pushing for direct participation in future Ukraine peace negotiations.
US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently met Putin in Moscow before travelling to Dublin to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. US officials have indicated that European countries will participate in the next round of negotiations.
Merz has said that Ukraine, Europe, the United States and Russia should all be represented in negotiations.
The issue of European representation has nevertheless created disagreement among European governments, which have not yet settled on exactly who should speak for Europe.
Merz has previously argued that choosing a specific representative should not distract from the more immediate objective of getting Russia to agree to meaningful negotiations.
For Ukraine, European participation is particularly important because the outcome of any peace agreement could directly affect its territory, security and future relationship with European institutions and NATO.

MERZ REJECTS RUSSIA'S CALL FOR A NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Merz also rejected the idea that Europe needs to negotiate a new security arrangement with Russia.
He argued that Europe's security framework already exists, pointing to established institutions and arrangements, particularly NATO.
Russia has sought broader discussions about European security as part of the wider diplomatic process. European governments, however, have expressed concern about allowing Moscow to use peace negotiations over Ukraine to reopen wider questions about the continent's security order.
The disagreement reflects a deeper issue surrounding the negotiations: whether talks should focus primarily on ending the war in Ukraine or also address Russia's broader demands concerning NATO and European security.

UKRAINE REMAINS AT THE CENTRE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS

The European position is that Ukraine must have a direct role in any negotiations affecting its future.
European leaders have also stressed that security arrangements concerning Europe cannot be decided without European governments being involved.
The United States has recently indicated greater openness to European participation, with its envoys saying that a peace agreement cannot be concluded without Europe at the table.
This has created cautious optimism among European governments, although significant disagreements remain over the format of the talks and the issues that should be discussed.
Russia's position also remains a major obstacle. Moscow has continued to reject some European security proposals and maintains demands concerning territory and NATO's role.

THE NEXT US RUSSIA MEETING COULD SHAPE THE PEACE PROCESS

The expected Trump Putin meeting in China could become an important moment for the diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine.
European governments will be watching closely to determine whether the United States and Russia reach new understandings that affect the wider negotiations.
Merz's warning shows that Germany and other European governments want Washington to coordinate closely with both Europe and Ukraine rather than making major decisions independently.
The next stage of the peace process will therefore depend not only on discussions between Washington and Moscow, but also on whether Ukraine and European governments can secure a meaningful role in determining the terms of any eventual settlement.