In brief

• Merz and Trump agreed by phone on November 5 that the war in Ukraine should be stopped as quickly as possible.
• Any peace deal would also need approval from NATO partners.
• Consultations in Brussels on November 4 prepared a plan for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and financing in 2027.
• Trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia are scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.

Phone call between Berlin and Washington

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on the evening of November 5 about Russia's war in Ukraine (Мерц поговорив із Трампом про війну РФ в Україні – Українська правда). A government spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, said the two leaders agreed that the war against Ukraine must be ended as quickly as possible.

Conditions for any settlement

According to the spokesman, any peace agreement would also have to be endorsed by NATO partners. He said the US elections had created a new sense of urgency and that the negotiating mandate had become considerably more focused.

Meetings ahead of the talks

The call followed a working meeting in Brussels involving representatives of Ukraine, the United States, France, Britain, Germany and NATO. They discussed future US and other partner security guarantees for Ukraine and a new European security strategy.

On November 4, consultations were held at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels with Ukraine, the US, Britain, France, Germany, NATO, the World Bank and the Commission. Participants prepared a Ukraine Prosperity Plan, a framework intended to define post-war recovery mechanisms and financing for Ukraine in 2027.

Next round of trilateral talks

These meetings took place ahead of a planned round of talks involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia, set for November 10-11 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The talks are expected to focus on next steps toward peace.

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