Putin and Zelenskyy Expected to Meet Within Two Weeks, Says German Chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to hold face-to-face talks within the next two weeks. The meeting follows discussions in Washington, where European leaders met with U.S. President Donald Trump to explore ways of ending the war in Ukraine.
Merz said Trump spoke directly with Putin by phone and secured agreement for the upcoming meeting. While the exact location has yet to be decided, the talks are expected to mark a significant step in ongoing peace efforts.
The German leader warned, however, that Ukraine must not be forced to cede the Donbas region to Russia, comparing such a demand to the United States being asked to give up Florida. He stressed that any resolution should protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
When asked about the possibility of sending German peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, Merz said the decision would require careful coordination with European partners and the U.S., adding that Europe as a whole has a responsibility to safeguard regional stability. Any deployment of German troops would also need approval from the Bundestag.