Merz German interview cliffnotes:
>very intensive talks
>merz thankful partners came with
>very open discussion
>real negotiations can only happen with ukraine taking part
>merz reiterates no negotiations without ceasefire
>trump paused to call putin on the phone and arranged meeting between zelenskyy and putin in the next two weeks
>place for meeting not yet clear
>trump agrees to trilat after that meeting
>no territorial concessions from ukraine; this was not talked about today either
>ukraine is sovereign and must make territorial decisions itself
>merz welcomes trump's statement re: security guarantees -- these will happen if peace happens
>long and intensive discussion on security guarantees. outcome is that US agrees to security guarantees coordinated with EU
>zele and trump are cool with each other
>tomorrow video conference of coalition of the willing (32 states)
>also tomorrow: special EU consultation on this
>european leaders 'spoke with one voice'
>merz wasn't sure today would go like this, but it went better than he had hoped
>trump open to humanitarian questions (abducted children)