German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not take place, even despite US efforts, Politico reports.
Merz told reporters before dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron that despite what was said during Putin’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, and what was discussed when European leaders visited Washington, it is clear that there will be no direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
After meeting with European leaders and Zelensky on the 18th of August, Trump announced that he had arranged a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Moscow later cooled hopes, indicating that such a meeting could not take place at this time.
Merz’s comments follow another deadly attack by Moscow on Ukraine
in the early hours of the 28th of August. Fifteen people were killed and the European Union and British embassies were damaged. The French president also condemned the attacks, describing them as terrorism and barbarism.
European leaders have previously privately expressed doubts that Trump’s efforts to pressure Putin will work, but Merz’s comments are the strongest public expression of skepticism yet.
The main goal of the meeting between Merz and Macron is to work together to support Ukraine. The politicians also plan to discuss other issues, such as France’s objections to the EU’s trade deal with the Mercosur alliance (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay), as well as differences in defense spending and the energy sector.
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