Merz Almost Caused a Diplomatic Scandal at the White House: The New York Times

During a meeting with European leaders and Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for a ceasefire to facilitate a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. This was reported by The New York Times.

The publication notes that Merz insisted in front of Trump that achieving a ceasefire was necessary for potential negotiations, at least between Putin and Zelensky. However, Trump adopted a different stance, stating that peace agreements could also be reached without halting military operations. The U.S. President expressed the opinion that, strategically, a ceasefire might not be beneficial for either side in the conflict.