Kyiv: A summit against Putin's war makes Merz cautiously hopeful

The red carpet has been rolled out in front of the Marian Palace in Kyiv, and a cleaner quickly vacuums the fabric before the visitors arrive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47) is receiving heads of state and government at the residence. Four of them announced their attendance on Saturday morning – including a new one who is also an old acquaintance: As opposition leader, Friedrich Merz (CDU) was the first top German politician to visit Ukraine after the Russian invasion almost exactly three years ago. Now Merz is paying his respects to Zelensky as Chancellor – just four days after taking office.

And Merz isn't coming alone. Joining him on the special train to Kyiv are French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also announced his attendance.

Zelenskyy waits for guests in front of the turquoise-blue baroque facade of the Mariinsky Palace, blinking in the morning sun. The president is dressed in black, wearing a uniform-style jacket with epaulettes. He intends to forgo suits until the end of the war. During his visit to the White House, he was accused of disrespect because of his attire, before an uproar erupted and US President Donald Trump summarily expelled him.

Zelensky is the master of the house at the Marienplatz. His visitors from Europe wear suits and ties as they step out of their cars. Unlike Trump, they are well-disposed towards him—they see him as a hero. Merz is a foot taller than his host, which doesn't detract from the warm embrace.

After the welcoming ceremony, the heads of government will meet for a summit of the "Coalition of the Willing," a coalition led by France and Great Britain, which also includes Germany, Poland, and numerous other countries. Their representatives will join via video link. The United States is not part of the coalition, but Zelensky and his guests will call Trump after the meeting to inform him of the results.

At the heart of the debate is an ultimatum to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin: an unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days, starting Monday. Otherwise, sanctions against Russia will be tightened. At a press conference at the conclusion of the summit, Zelensky and his four counterparts repeatedly emphasized that Trump supported the initiative. However, the US president at times seemed to have sided with Putin in recent months.

You can read all developments regarding the visit of Chancellor Merz and other heads of state and government to Ukraine in the live ticker.

"We know that the United States of America supports us," Zelenskyy emphasized after the summit. Merz said Trump "fully" supports the demands. Starmer spoke of "absolute unity," especially with regard to the US. Tusk emphasized: "For the first time in a long time, we have the feeling that the entire free world is truly united."

The Chancellor stressed: “If Russia refuses this ceasefire, a ceasefire that can be the basis for negotiations that begin immediately, then we will continue to defend Ukraine and we will continue to increase the pressure on Russia.”

The allies make it clear that they don't trust Putin. Merz accuses the Kremlin chief of trying to delay a ceasefire. Starmer demands of Putin: "No ifs and buts, no conditions, no delays." All heads of government emphasize what is essentially self-evident: that an unconditional ceasefire excludes preconditions.

Russia had already set conditions immediately before the meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the US broadcaster ABC that a 30-day ceasefire would be a prerequisite for an end to arms deliveries to Ukraine. Peskov responded calmly to the threat of sanctions on Russian state television. "Trying to scare us with sanctions is pointless."

Putin doesn't directly address the demand for a longer ceasefire, but he does make a counterproposal: He offers Ukraine the resumption of peace talks starting Thursday in Istanbul. The Kremlin chief says in Moscow: "Those who truly want peace cannot oppose it."

This sounds like the delaying tactics the allies in Kyiv warned against. At the press conference, they are unwilling to discuss the possibility of securing a ceasefire with European ground troops. "Let's take one step at a time," says Macron. Merz, in turn, evades the question of whether he will supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles—as once promised.

In Kyiv, the Chancellor made it clear again that the Russian war of aggression has dimensions far beyond Ukraine. "This war seeks to destroy the entire political order of Europe." After the summit, Merz spoke of an "almost historic day" – and expressed cautious hope. "This is the largest diplomatic initiative that has taken place in recent months, if not years, to end the war in Ukraine," he told ZDF. "I'm returning with the feeling that we might have a small chance."