BERLIN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday stressed that fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be safeguarded in the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.
Merz made the remarks at a press conference in Berlin along with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Merz and Zelensky attended a series of virtual meetings with other European leaders and with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the planned Trump-Putin summit.
Calling for a ceasefire as the first step, Merz said that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in any follow-up meetings.
He also said that Ukraine is prepared to negotiate on territorial questions, but the current "contact line" must be the starting point. ■
