Merkel prepares Ukrainian President for crucial meeting with Trump: advice and diplomatic prospects

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced his intention to offer President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky valuable guidance ahead of his scheduled talks with U.S.
leader Donald Trump.
Reports indicate that this meeting is set to take place in Washington on August 18 and is expected to be a significant event in their diplomatic engagements.
Merz explained that his previous discussion with Trump differed in format and objectives from the upcoming one, and therefore he plans to personally share additional strategic advice with the Ukrainian leader.
The Chancellor mentioned that he has already discussed these nuances with Zelensky and emphasized that their next meeting could provide a constructive contribution to the Ukraine-U.S.
dialogue.
Meanwhile, international focus remains on Russia’s reactions to the evolving geopolitical situation.
For instance, President Putin on Alaska insisted on recognizing Russian as a state language and declined a meeting with Zelensky before the summit.
European countries are actively reaffirming their support for Ukraine and stating they will do everything possible to aid Kyiv—particularly in the context of potential tripartite talks involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, considered as a pathway to reduce tensions and make progress towards conflict resolution.
On August 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his trip to Washington at Donald Trump’s invitation to discuss further steps to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Simultaneously, European Union leaders once again expressed their support for Ukraine and their readiness to facilitate peace negotiations in the format ‘Ukraine – USA – Russia’, hoping for a constructive dialogue that will help de-escalate tensions and find a long-term solution to the crisis.