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

Key Points:

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe must play a central role in any Ukraine peace agreement, particularly in decisions about sanctions and security arrangements, amid renewed U.S. efforts to negotiate with Russia.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine’s potential EU membership and access to the bloc’s security infrastructure cannot be decided by the U.S. and Russia alone, highlighting the need for European support.
• Merz criticized the U.S. decision to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit without including Ukraine, calling it unacceptable to discuss Ukraine’s fate without its direct involvement.
• Germany plans to increase aid to Ukraine for the winter and will host a "Coalition of the Willing" meeting on November 19 to coordinate additional military support and security guarantees for Kyiv.
• Zelenskyy urged European leaders to strengthen continental defenses as U.S. global engagement wanes, emphasizing that Europe’s increased role is essential and that Germany’s leadership is crucial.