Image Source: kresy.pl
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Berlin on Wednesday to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to the German government, the two will hold discussions with European and U.S. leaders ahead of the upcoming Trump–Putin summit later this week.
Merz has arranged a series of virtual meetings on Wednesday to make sure “the voice of European and Ukraine’s leaders” is heard before a summit that has largely left them out.
Zelenskyy will first meet European leaders in Berlin. About an hour later, he will join a virtual call with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The day will end with a meeting involving leaders from the “coalition of the willing” — countries ready to help oversee any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
During a Wednesday pledge, Merz promised to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems “free of any Western-imposed limitations” so that Kyiv can target and defend as needed in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy last visited Berlin in late May.
Trump has said Friday’s summit will test if Russian President Vladimir Putin is “serious about ending the war,” calling it “a feel-out meeting” to assess Putin’s intentions. However, Trump has unsettled European allies by suggesting Ukraine will need to surrender some Russian-held territory. He also mentioned possible “land swaps,” though it is unclear what Russia would be expected to give up in return.
European countries have strongly pushed for Ukraine’s direct participation in any peace talks, fearing that excluding Kyiv could tilt the outcome in Moscow’s favor. On Monday, Trump avoided committing to pushing for Zelenskyy’s inclusion in his talks with Putin. He downplayed the Ukrainian leader’s role, saying that after Friday’s summit, there “could be a meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy and me” — or just between Russia and Ukraine.
Both European leaders and Ukraine are cautious, fearing Putin — who has waged the largest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia’s energy dominance to pressure the EU — could secure concessions and shape a peace deal without them. Many European countries worry that if Putin wins in Ukraine, “he will set his sights” on another European nation next.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy claimed that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the 30% of Donetsk region it still controls as part of a ceasefire. The Ukrainian president “categorically rejected” the idea, saying it would violate the constitution and become “a springboard for a future Russian invasion.”
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will not give up any territory it currently holds. He also said U.S.-led diplomatic talks have not addressed critical Ukrainian demands, such as security guarantees against future Russian attacks and the inclusion of Europe in negotiations.
Three weeks after returning to office, Trump’s administration removed the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO — a long-standing Russian demand — and signaled that Europe and Ukraine should now handle their own security, as the U.S. shifts focus elsewhere.
Trump has also repeatedly pressured NATO allies over defense spending, raised tariffs on most EU imports to 15% citing “national security,” and shown little willingness to soften trade tensions. Senior EU officials believe Trump may aim for a simple ceasefire in Ukraine while pursuing larger U.S. strategic goals, including improving business ties with Russia and restoring Putin’s standing on the world stage.
