Merz Addressed Trump Before His Meeting With Putin

• 13.11.2026, 18:12

"No surprises."

European leaders fear that the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in China will turn into a “second Anchorage spirit.”

According to RBC-Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made this statement, according to Reuters.

Merz urged Trump not to spring any surprises during next week’s talks with Putin on Ukraine.

“Some here in Dublin fear that this could turn into a ‘second Anchorage moment,’” Merz said, referring to the summit between Trump and Putin in Anchorage. It was that summit that European leaders viewed as a potentially pivotal moment in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“That’s why I want to make our message to the U.S. very clear: please, no surprises. Continue to play your part as part of the ‘Team Europe’ and ‘Team Ukraine,’ says Merz.

Following meetings between representatives of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, substantive peace talks are expected to begin in the coming weeks. Europe will participate in these talks for the first time, Merz said.

He rejected Russia’s calls to place Europe’s security architecture at the center of the negotiations, noting that such a structure already exists—in the form of NATO.

“The upcoming discussions must focus on one central question: within what framework can Ukraine’s security be ensured once peace is achieved? However, first we must actually achieve that peace,” he said.

Merz insists that EU leaders commit to supporting Ukraine as part of the bloc’s long-term budget negotiations.

He said the proposal has received broad support, although an agreement is still a long way off.