Merz and Trump urge faster end to Ukraine war, say peace deal needs NATO backing
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on the evening of November 5 about the Russia-Ukraine war. They agreed that the war should be ended as soon as possible and that any peace agreement must be coordinated with NATO partners.
Key points
- Merz and Trump spoke by phone on November 5 about ending the war in Ukraine.
- They agreed that the war should be ended as soon as possible.
- Any peace agreement must be coordinated with or approved by NATO partners.
- Ukraine, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and NATO discussed security guarantees in Brussels.
- November 4 consultations in Brussels addressed Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and 2027 financing.
- US-Ukraine-Russia talks are scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.
- Merz and Trump agreed to prioritize ending the war before discussing Europe’s future security order.
Why it matters
The call indicates a more focused US negotiating mandate and greater urgency after the US elections. The German-US position places ending the war first and broad European security discussions later, while linking any settlement to NATO partners. The talks also connect to Ukraine’s prospective security guarantees, reconstruction financing and the planned trilateral negotiations.
What happened
Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump spoke by phone on the evening of November 5. According to German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius, they agreed that the war against Ukraine should be ended as quickly as possible and that any peace agreement should be approved by NATO partners. The German and US positions also emphasized that ending the war should come first, followed by discussions about Europe’s security order, and that an agreement should only be concluded after all issues have been settled. Representatives of Ukraine, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and NATO had met in Brussels to discuss future security guarantees for Ukraine and a new European security strategy. Separate consultations on November 4 involving the World Bank and the European Commission addressed the Plan for Ukraine’s Prosperity, including postwar reconstruction mechanisms and Ukraine’s financing in 2027. US, Ukrainian and Russian talks were scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi to discuss further steps toward peace.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents Ukraine as the central party to both the war and the peace process. It highlights NATO approval of any agreement, European participation, guarantees for Ukraine and reconstruction financing, alongside Trump’s statement that he had not met the Ukrainian representatives who were also in Washington.
How international sources describe it
German-language reporting focuses on the Merz-Trump conversation, France and the United Kingdom’s role, and the division between efforts to end the war now and later discussions on European security. It contrasts the German-US emphasis on urgency with the Kremlin’s focus on European involvement and a broader European security arrangement.
Where reporting differs
The Kremlin said Europe had not shown readiness to discuss the future European security system and that European negotiators had not yet been appointed. At the same time, it said Russia remained open to European participation and to discussing security guarantees. The German and US position prioritized ending the war before addressing European security, whereas the Kremlin emphasized the conditions for discussing Europe’s future security architecture.
Background
Ahead of the call, representatives of Ukraine, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and NATO met in Brussels to discuss future security guarantees for Ukraine and a new European security strategy. Separate November 4 consultations with the World Bank and the European Commission addressed preparations for the Plan for Ukraine’s Prosperity. Meanwhile, Trump met Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, who passed him a letter for Vladimir Putin, and raised the possibility of a broader agreement involving Ukraine and Europe.