Germany’s Merz asks Trump for ‘no surprises’ from Putin talks

BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday urged US President Donald Trump not to spring any surprises during expected talks on Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week.

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

“I therefore want to state our message to the United States very clearly: please, no surprises. Continue to play as part of ‘Team Europe’ and ‘Team Ukraine’.”

Merz is pushing for EU leaders to commit to supporting Ukraine as part of negotiations on the bloc’s long-term budget.