Zelenskyy’s surprise Berlin visit ahead of Trump–Putin talks
Wednesday, 13 August
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making a lightning trip to Berlin today for a series of high-level video conferences on Ukraine’s future. German chancellor Friedrich Merz has convened the calls with European leaders to coordinate positions ahead of Trump’s scheduled meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday.
The day will begin with a closed-door video session from the Chancellery linking Merz, Zelenskyy, and leaders from France, Britain, Italy, Poland and Finland, as well as EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council president António Costa, and NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte. The agenda: agree on a united stance before Trump and his vice-president J.D. Vance join the second call at 15:00.
According to European officials, there is concern that Trump could strike a deal with Putin involving Ukrainian territorial concessions – a scenario Kyiv has categorically rejected. The goal is to secure a clear US commitment not to negotiate over Ukraine’s head.
Berlin police have warned of short-notice road closures and pedestrian restrictions around the Reichstag and Chancellery, as well as possible S-Bahn and U-Bahn delays.
Merz has said the talks will also cover new ways to pressure Moscow, prepare the ground for possible peace negotiations, and discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer reiterated his call for binding protections. Merz plans to brief the press following the Trump call.
