Despite promises to Trump, Putin will not meet with Zelenskyy—Germany’s Merz

Merz made the statement during a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron that was streamed live on the CNN-News18 YouTube channel. He was commenting on a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv earlier the same day.

“We have to respond to such an unprecedented attack,” Merz said.

“It seems obvious that a meeting between President Zelenskyy and Putin will not take place, despite the agreement between Putin and U. S. President Trump last week.” 

On Aug. 18, Merz said Putin, during a phone call with Trump, had confirmed his readiness to meet Zelenskyy. Two days later, Trump said the two leaders were still working to organize the bilateral meeting.

On Aug. 21, Zelenskyy said Russia did not want to end the war and was avoiding summit talks. The following day, Trump told reporters at the White House he would decide within two weeks on further steps to resolve the conflict, including “large sanctions, or large tariffs, or both, or nothing.”