Germany's Merz Talks Ukraine with Trump: Europe's Stake in the War

Friedrich Merz, Germany's Chancellor, had a lengthy phone chat with former U. S. President Donald Trump. The main topic? Ukraine and the ongoing war with Russia. Merz made it clear that Europe has a huge stake in this conflict and must be part of any solution. He stressed that wars can't be solved by big powers making deals without involving the countries directly affected. Ukraine and Europe must agree to any peace deal. If Ukraine loses, it won't just be a loss for Ukraine. It will shake up the entire European political landscape. Merz also pointed out that there's a chance to end the war now. But, he warned, it's still a long way from a good outcome for everyone involved. He reminded Trump about the Budapest Memorandum. This was a 1994 agreement where Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons for security promises. Those promises didn't hold up when Russia invaded. Because of this, Merz argued that new, more reliable security guarantees are needed now. The current situation shows that old agreements aren't enough to keep the peace.