The information, confirmed after negotiations between Western leaders and US President Donald Trump in Washington, indicates that the meeting location has yet to be determined.

Trump spoke by phone with Putin during a break in the talks and they agreed to this approach, Merz told the Morgen Zeitung newspaper, emphasizing that any substantial dialogue requires a prior ceasefire.

Analysts note that the announcement coincides with Western pressure to reactivate peace negotiations, which have been stalled since April.

However, key divergences remain: Kiev insists on discussing pre-2014 borders, while Moscow demands recognition of new territorial realities.

The German Chancellor emphasized that decisions regarding sovereignty rest exclusively with Ukraine, although he declined to specify whether Europe would support concessions.

At the same time, he welcomed the security guarantee plan promoted by Washington, which would include military supplies and allied support.

abo/arm/mem/amp