Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Berlin on Wednesday to join German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for critical talks with European and U.S. leaders, aiming to amplify Ukraine’s voice ahead of the anticipated Trump-Putin summit later this week. Merz has organized a series of virtual meetings to ensure European and Ukrainian perspectives are heard, as they fear being sidelined in the high-stakes Alaska summit scheduled for Friday.

Zelenskyy will first meet European leaders to strategize, followed by a virtual call with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. A final discussion will involve the “coalition of the willing” nations ready to enforce any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.

Merz pledged support for Ukraine to develop long-range missile systems free from Western restrictions, bolstering Kyiv’s defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion. This marks Zelenskyy’s second Berlin visit since May, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Trump has described the upcoming summit as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the four-year war. However, his suggestion that Ukraine may need to cede Russian-held territory has alarmed European allies, who insist Kyiv must be central to any peace talks.

Zelenskyy firmly rejected Putin’s demand for Ukraine to abandon the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region it controls, calling such concessions unconstitutional and a potential catalyst for future Russian aggression. He emphasized that U.S.-led diplomatic efforts have overlooked Ukraine’s core demands, including robust security guarantees and European involvement. Trump’s administration, just three weeks into office, has already removed Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects—a key Russian demand—and shifted European security responsibilities to the EU.

Trump’s threats of 15% tariffs on EU imports and pressure on NATO allies over defense spending further heighten European concerns about his priorities, with many fearing he may prioritize U.S.-Russia relations over Ukraine’s sovereignty.

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European nations worry that Putin, having waged the largest European land war since 1945, could exploit favorable concessions and target other countries if successful in Ukraine. As Zelenskyy and Merz rally support, the continent braces for a summit that could reshape Ukraine’s future without its direct input, raising fears of a deal favoring Moscow.

Also Read: Trump Defies Allies: Will Meet Putin Without Zelenskyy