German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday urged the international community to intensify pressure on Russia, including ramping up military and financial aid for Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to host a high-stakes summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington.
Speaking in Tokyo alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Wadephul said the upcoming White House talks, scheduled after Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, were pivotal for shaping a “just and lasting peace.”
“It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington,” Wadephul told reporters. “Firm security guarantees are central, because Ukraine must be able to defend itself effectively even after a ceasefire and peace agreement.”
The gathering in Washington will bring together Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. On Sunday, the European leaders met in advance to coordinate their positions and reinforce Zelenskyy’s negotiating hand ahead of his meeting with Trump.
According to European officials, they welcomed recent U.S. signals of support for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine but stressed that Kyiv must be fully involved in any discussions on territory and that its remaining land should be safeguarded from further Russian aggression.
The call for a united front comes as Kyiv continues to reject Moscow’s proposals, and as European capitals grow wary that Trump may press Zelenskyy into an unfavorable deal with Putin.
“The credibility of Western support is on the line,” one senior European diplomat said. “Only by maintaining pressure can Russia be pushed toward meaningful concessions.”
The Washington summit is expected to focus on security guarantees, postwar reconstruction, and the conditions for any potential peace deal.
Written By Rodney Mbua
