(13 Aug 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin – 13 August 2025
1. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walking to lecterns
2. Photographers
3. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"Of course, we also discussed the issue of a ceasefire. President Trump also wants to make this one of his priorities on Friday in his talks with President Putin. And I very much hope that an agreement will be reached.”
4. Wide of Merz speaking
5. Close of Zelenskyy listening
6. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
“Because so far, all talks that have been conducted with Putin in the past 3 ½ years have been accompanied by an even harder military answer. It must be different this time, otherwise talks that are held are not credible and not successful. We assume that President Trump will also try to enforce this."
7. Wide of of news conference
8. Close of Merz speaking
9. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"If there is no movement on the Russian side in Alaska, then the United States and we, Europeans, should and must increase the pressure. President Trump is aware of these positions. He largely shares them. And that is why I can say that we had a really constructive and positive conversation with each other. We wished President Trump all the best."
10. Wide of Merz speaking
11. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"We have made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table as soon as follow-up meetings take place. We want negotiations to proceed in the right order. A ceasefire must be at the beginning. Essential elements should then be agreed upon in a framework agreement."
12. Wide of Merz speaking
13. SOUNDBITE (German) Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor:
"Ukraine is ready to negotiate on territorial issues. However, the so-called contact line must be the starting point, and legal recognition of Russian occupation is not up for debate. The principle that borders must not be changed by force must continue to apply."
14. Display showing Merz speaking
15. Merz and Zelenskyy shaking hands, then leaving
STORYLINE:
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a "constructive and good" discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday, two days ahead of Trump’s planned meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Merz, speaking alongside Zelenskyy, said after the video conference that "important decisions" could be made in Anchorage, but stressed that "fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected" at the meeting.
Merz said the leaders discussed the issue of a ceasefire, which he stressed must come at the beginning of the negotiations.
He told reporters that "Trump also wants to make this one of his priorities on Friday in his talks with President Putin. And I very much hope that an agreement will be reached."
“So far, all talks that have been conducted with Putin in the past 3 ½ years have been accompanied by an even harder military answer,” Merz said.
“It must be different this time, otherwise talks that are held are not credible and not successful.”
But he said that “if there is no movement on the Russian side in Alaska, then the United States and the Europeans should and must increase the pressure” on Moscow.
He added that “President Trump is aware of these positions. He largely shares them.”
“We have made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table as soon as follow-up meetings take place,” Merz said.
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