Selenskyj and Merz: Diplomatiemarathon gives Ukraine hope

Friedrich Merz is currently not really a political child. But one thing cannot be accused of this Federal Chancellor: He spends a lot of strength these days that on Friday in Alaska on the future of Ukraine will not be decided without the Ukrainians. And not even without Europe talking to a word.

As far as this is possible, with this US president.

At the end of the European-American diplomatia marathon this Wednesday and the visit of Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Berlin there is at least a glimmer of hope: After the phone call with the Europeans, Donald Trump said that he was expecting a joint meeting with the Russian and the Ukrainian president after Friday. Trump also threatened Russia painful sanctions, should Putin show no will in anchorage.

Now Trump is Trump, so in two days the world can look completely different again. But the death or blades summit for Ukraine feared by some in political Berlin seems to be off the table for the time being. A dictation peace of Anchorage seems less likely than before.

Government circles stated in the evening that the talks with the Americans were “very constructive”. The Americans would not want to negotiate without Ukraine and without Europe.

The impression on the German side for days for days, intensive preliminary talks with the Americans: the red lines of Europeans and Ukrainians have arrived in Washington. Careful optimism.

The lightning visit from Selenskyj in Berlin had started under dark signs. The war situation is bad, that showed another news of this day: Putin’s soldiers achieved the largest terrain gain in a year within 24 hours. Dhe Kremltruppe gained control over an area of 110 square kilometers in the east of the country. The Ukrainians lack material, but especially people, of soldiers. The current offensive also shows how much Putin is urgent on completing a deal in its favor.

Therefore, from a German perspective, this day should also serve to demonstrate the Ukrainian’s view of this war. Nothing would be worse than if Trump sees Putin as a safe winner anyway. An American dealer on the side of the losers, the loose? Difficult to imagine.

Selenskyj took the opportunity this Wednesday. And not only on the joint call with Trump and the European heads of state in the afternoon. The Ukrainian spoke of a bluff Putin at a press conference in the Chancellery. He now wanted to give the impression that he could fill Ukraine entirely. Selenskyj vehemently contradicted this: “The Russians have three times as many losses as we do,” he said. And: “The sanctions hit Russia hard.”

Previously, they had sat together in a neglected room in the Chancellery. Only in a European round, with the heads of state and government from France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland and Finland, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU President António Costa. Then the phone call with Trump and his Vice President JD Vance started at around 3 p.m. The conversation took around an hour. Merz then presented five principles for the peace process on behalf of the Europeans.

Firstly, the Ukraine must “sit at the table”, i.e. negotiate, as the Chancellor explained in the press conference after the talks. Second, a ceasefire must be at the beginning of serious negotiations. Third, Ukraine is also for negotiations on territory, but not to regulations in the legal sense. Fourth, robust security guarantees for the country are needed, the forces should remain intact. Fifth you need a common transatlantic strategy that relies on pressure against Russia.

There are probably two core messages that should start from this Berlin summit: Firstly, that Europe is finally closed. On the other hand, that too Trump on board is: One was “very united” about the starting point and the achievable goals at the meeting in Alaska, emphasized Merz after the talks.

Ultimately, and that remains the large empty space of his attempts, you will still be dependent on the president’s moods.

Trump can be heard, so it is easy to influence what he has seen or heard last. Another whisperer has him by Friday, such as the Hungarian Viktor Orbánconvinces that only the Ukrainians actually prevent peace? Or is it enough if an experienced liar like ex-KGB man Putin turns him his head at the meeting? Nobody knows. Everything is possible.

Especially since that Central puzzle part is still missing: A concrete plan of how peace can be achieved as quickly as possible. The Europeans cannot formulate that to date. There is also no agreement on the type of security guarantees for Ukraine, not even who could say it.

This is also why Europeans remain in the negotiations on the side table.

What remains of this day? The worst, a dictation peace, may have been averted, has become less likely. For Friedrich Merz this is a success that should not be underestimated.

“I agree to Friedrich,” says Wolodymyr Selenskyj in a video of the two men who will be released after the meeting. Both laugh warmly. They are beautiful pictures. Both politicians need them bitterly.

There is far from being a solution for Ukraine, maybe even peace.