Merz plans Ukraine talks Wednesday with Trump, Zelenskyy, European leaders
Merz's office said Monday he would discuss the Ukraine war with leaders from 'Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the heads of the European Commission and Council, the secretary general of NATO, as well as the US president and his deputy.'
They would discuss 'further options to exert pressure on Russia' and the 'preparation of possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security,' the statement said.
Merz's spokesman Stefan Kornelius said the talks, at Merz's invitation, would be 'variously composed roundtable discussions' without giving further details.
According to Germany's Bild daily, a first conference call will include the European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
This would be followed by a joint call with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the newspaper said.
The summit between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has raised concerns among European leaders that an eventual agreement might require Kyiv to cede swathes of territory.
Earlier on Monday German government spokesman Steffen Meyer repeated Berlin's longstanding position that 'borders must not be changed by force,' in reference to Ukrainian territory seized by Russia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
16 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Zelenskyy says ‘no sign' Russia is getting set for peace
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was preparing its troops for new offensives instead of getting ready to stop the war in Ukraine, after he spoke to Saudi and Indian leaders on Monday as part of efforts to mobilize support for Kyiv beyond Europe. Zelenskyy won diplomatic backing from Europe and the NATO alliance on Sunday, amid fears that the US and Russian leaders may try to dictate terms for ending the 3-1/2-year war during their Friday summit in Alaska. 'Today, there was a report from the intelligence and military command about what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for. In particular, military preparations. He is certainly not getting ready for a ceasefire and war end,' Zelenskyy said in a nightly address. He added, without providing any specifics, that Russia was moving its troops for new operations on Ukrainian soil. 'There is no sign that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation,' he said. Vladyslav Voloshyn, Ukraine's military spokesperson for the southern frontline sector, told Reuters on Monday that Russia was moving some of its units in the Zaporizhzhia region for further assaults. In separate statements on Monday, Zelenskyy said he had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. India is a major buyer of Russian oil, and Saudi Arabia has pitched itself as a mediator in the conflict. Zelenskyy said he spoke to both leaders about strengthening Ukraine's position in any peace process. 'Communication with leaders is ongoing practically around the clock – we are in constant touch,' he wrote on X. 'Now is the moment when there is a real chance to achieve peace.' In his 'long conversation' with Modi, Zelenskyy added that he had also discussed sanctions on Russian oil. Trump last week slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of the product. 'I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war,' Zelenskyy said, adding that leaders with 'tangible leverage over Russia' should act. Zelenskyy also urged his country's allies to keep their sanctions against Russia in place until Ukraine receives security guarantees. Putin has also made a flurry of calls in recent days, speaking to the leaders of China, India, Brazil and ex-Soviet states to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Germany will convene a virtual meeting of European leaders to discuss how to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine ahead of a European call with Trump. Zelenskyy and EU and NATO officials were expected to join the meeting. Earlier on Monday, Zelenskyy warned that any concessions to Russia would not persuade it to stop fighting in Ukraine and that there was a need to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. 'Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits,' he wrote on X. 'Concessions do not persuade a killer.'
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Norway sovereign wealth fund drops investments in 11 Israeli firms
OSLO: Norway's sovereign wealth fund said Monday that it was selling its investments in 11 Israeli companies following reports it had invested in an Israeli jet engine maker even as the war in Gaza raged. Nicolai Tangen, chief of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the fund, said the decision was taken 'in response to extraordinary circumstances.' 'The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened,' Tangen said in a statement. He said the move would reduce the number of Israeli companies the fund's Council of Ethics needed to supervise. Norway's wealth fund is the biggest in the world with a value of around $1.9 trillion, with investments in more than 8,600 companies spanning the globe. Last week, Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported that the fund had invested in Israeli Bet Shemesh Engines Holdings, which makes parts for engines used in Israeli fighter jets. Tangen later confirmed the reports, and said the fund had increased its stake after the Israeli offensive in Gaza began. The revelations led Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to ask Finance Minister and former NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg for a review. NBIM said it had investments in 61 Israeli companies at the end of the first six months of this year, 11 of which were not in its 'equity benchmark index' — which is set by the finance ministry and used to gauge the wealth fund's performance. NBIM added that it had decided last week that 'all investments in Israeli companies that are not in the equity benchmark index will be sold as soon as possible.' Going forward, 'the fund's investments in Israel will now be limited to companies that are in the equity benchmark index,' it said. NBIM also said that all investments in Israeli companies managed by external managers would be moved in-house, and that it was 'terminating contracts with external managers in Israel.' In addition, NBIM said the finance ministry had asked it to review 'its investments in Israeli companies, and to propose new measures that it deems necessary.' It said it initiated the review and would present its findings before an August 20 deadline. The fund also said that it had 'long paid particular attention to companies associated with war and conflict.' 'Since 2020, we have been in contact with more than 60 companies to raise this issue. Of these, 39 dialogues were related to the West Bank and Gaza,' NBIM said. It said that monitoring of Israeli companies had been intensified in the autumn of 2024, and that 'as a result, we have sold our investments in several Israeli companies.' Speaking at a press conference later Monday, Stoltenberg said he was glad Norges Bank had 'acted quickly.' 'The fund's ethical guidelines stipulate that it shall not invest in companies that contribute to violations of international law by states,' he told reporters. 'Therefore, the pension fund should not hold shares in companies that contribute to Israel's warfare in Gaza or the occupation of the West Bank,' he said. Also on Monday, Norwegian pension fund KLP said it had excluded Israeli company NextVision Stabilized Systems 'from its investments because the company supplies key components for military drones used in the war in Gaza.'
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Merz plans Ukraine talks Wednesday with Trump, Zelenskyy, European leaders
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to hold talks with the US and Ukrainian presidents and European leaders on Wednesday, two days ahead of a US-Russia summit in Alaska, his office said. Merz's office said Monday he would discuss the Ukraine war with leaders from 'Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the heads of the European Commission and Council, the secretary general of NATO, as well as the US president and his deputy.' They would discuss 'further options to exert pressure on Russia' and the 'preparation of possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security,' the statement said. Merz's spokesman Stefan Kornelius said the talks, at Merz's invitation, would be 'variously composed roundtable discussions' without giving further details. According to Germany's Bild daily, a first conference call will include the European leaders, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. This would be followed by a joint call with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the newspaper said. The summit between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has raised concerns among European leaders that an eventual agreement might require Kyiv to cede swathes of territory. Earlier on Monday German government spokesman Steffen Meyer repeated Berlin's longstanding position that 'borders must not be changed by force,' in reference to Ukrainian territory seized by Russia.
