Germany’s Merz warns Europe needs seat at the table as Trump renews Ukraine talks – POLITICO

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Europe must help shape any Ukraine peace agreement as U.S. President Donald Trump renews his push to negotiate a deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

“Europe must and wants to play a role in this process,” said Merz alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin Tuesday. “Key elements of a peaceful solution — whether regarding sanctions or the security architecture — can only be resolved with us Europeans. And everyone involved knows that very well.”

Zelenskyy also suggested that no peace deal could be struck that would preclude his country from joining the EU and benefiting from what he called the bloc’s “security infrastructure.”