Zelenskyj telephones Merz and Rutte earlier than Trump assembly | EUROtoday

As of: December 26, 2025 11:26 p.m

Ukrainian President Zelenskyj consulted with allies – together with Chancellor Merz and NATO Secretary General Rutte – earlier than his deliberate journey to the USA. He then emphasised that Europe should proceed to drag collectively.

Before the deliberate assembly with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned the following steps with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and different high European politicians.

“We are coordinating our positions and everyone in Europe must pull together to defend our European way of life, the independence of our states and peace in Europe. There must be peace,” Zelenskyj wrote on Platform X.

Thanks for “unwavering” Support

Zelensky wrote that he knowledgeable the Chancellor about Kiev’s work with the US envoys. “We all remember the format of the Berlin meeting and the results achieved there. We will continue to work in exactly the same way. We have agreed to continue to act together with the Europeans.”

Zelenskyi thanked Germany “for its unwavering” and concrete assist. “Thanks to our cooperation with Germany, thousands of lives in Ukraine have already been saved from Russian attacks, and we are maintaining our defensive positions to ensure the strength of our diplomatic positions. Friedrich, thank you very much!”

Merz responded to The “Berlin Group” is able to assist – in shut coordination with the US companions.

Zelensky desires referendum on peace plan

Zelensky says he desires to satisfy Trump in Florida this weekend to place the ending touches to a doable peace plan for Ukraine. During the dialog, “sensitive” subjects such because the dispute over the Donbass area or the way forward for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant could be mentioned. It can even be about doable bilateral agreements between Washington and Kiev on safety ensures, for instance.

Zelensky additionally advised the Axios portal that he would maintain a referendum on the peace plan negotiated with Trump if Russia agreed to a ceasefire. The US president advised Politico forward of the assembly that the Ukrainian president had “nothing to present until I sign off on it.” The Republican president expressed confidence that he would have a productive assembly.