Germany Hopes Zelensky Will Attend Trump-Putin Talks

JAKARTA - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hopes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be involved in the Russia-United States summit which will be held this Friday.

Chancellor Merz said he would speak by telephone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday in an interview with public broadcaster ARD.

"We are preparing intensively at the European level together with the US Government for this meeting," Chancellor Merz said.

"And we hope and assume the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky will engage in this meeting," he continued.

President Zelensky received diplomatic support from Europe and the NATO alliance on Sunday ahead of this week's Russia-US summit, where Kyiv fears Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may try to dictate the requirement to end the 3.5-year war.

"We cannot accept that territorial issues are decided between Russia and America without involving Europe and Ukraine," Chancellor Merz stressed.

He added that there would be no peace to reward Russia's aggressive actions, and instead encourage and strengthen further actions.