German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged US President Donald Trump not to make unexpected decisions at the upcoming talks with Vladimir Putin in China. Berlin fears that Washington could make a deal with Moscow on Ukraine and European security without prior coordination with allies.

Reuters reported this on Nov. 13, citing the chancellor's statement on the sidelines of the European Union leaders' meeting in Dublin.

Merz noted that concerns remain among European politicians about the possible outcome of the Trump-Putin meeting expected next week.

“Some here in Dublin fear it could turn into a second Anchorage,” — the German head of government said, referring to the previous summit of the American and Russian presidents in Alaska.
“So I want to make our signal to the United States crystal clear: please, no surprises. Keep acting as one team with Europe and Ukraine,” — Merz stressed.

The chancellor also opposed Moscow's proposal to revise the existing European security system in the framework of negotiations on ending the war against Ukraine.

“Russia wants to discuss issues of European security architecture. We don't need to discuss it; it already exists,” — Merz said.

According to him, Germany's participation in the future European delegation at the negotiations is a matter of course.

The statement came amid intensified diplomatic contacts between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow. After two-day talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10–11, U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Putin in Moscow on Nov. 12, and then held consultations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin.

Following these contacts, the American side said that representatives of European states should join the next round of peace talks. However, Moscow has not yet confirmed final consent to expand the format.

On Nov. 13, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the decision on European participation would depend on their readiness, in Russia's assessment, to facilitate the peace process.

Thus, despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, the question of Europe's participation in the talks and the discussion of the future of European security remains open. European leaders insist that decisions affecting Ukraine and the security of the continent should not be made without them.

Based on: Reuters, The Guardian.