The meeting at 10 Downing Street brought together Merz with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to assess U.S.-led peace frameworks and future European security guarantees.

Merz arrived amid growing concern inside Europe that diplomatic momentum under U.S. President Donald Trump could sideline European priorities and weaken constraints on Moscow.

Destiny of Europe

Merz framed the stakes in civilizational and strategic terms upon arriving in London, telling reporters:

“Because we all know that the destiny of this country is the destiny of Europe.”

Germany has already provided more than €28 billion in military support to Ukraine, making it the single largest European donor by volume.

That financial exposure has amplified Berlin’s concerns over long-term burden distribution as the conflict enters its fourth calendar year.

“Sceptical” of U.S. Terms

Merz openly questioned Washington’s approach to negotiations, telling journalists he was “sceptical about some of the US proposals for a peace deal.”

He also warned that “these could be decisive days ‘for all of us’ on Ukraine,” signaling that the London discussions were not symbolic but tightly linked to policy direction.

In parallel remarks before the meeting, Merz said he was “skeptical about some of the details in the documents coming from the USA,” underscoring European unease about concessions, particularly any formula perceived as imposing outcomes on Kyiv without Brussels’ consent.

“Europe Has Cards”

European leverage formed a second core line of argument.

Merz highlighted the strategic value of sanctions and immobilized assets, saying, “Europe has cards in our hands.”

Chief among those cards is roughly €300 billion in frozen Russian assets held across European jurisdictions, now under renewed discussion as a potential funding base for Ukrainian reconstruction and security guarantees.

Merz reiterated a principle first stated on December 1: “No dictate of peace over the heads of the EU and Ukraine!”

The message was directed at both Washington and Moscow, asserting that European approval is not optional in any final settlement architecture.

Risk Sharing and Strain

Beyond diplomacy, Berlin pushed the issue of financial strain.

Merz argued for “collective risk-sharing,” warning that Germany could otherwise face disproportionate costs in 2026 as Paris and London confront fiscal pressure.

Security guarantees also featured prominently. “We must step up efforts to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees,” Merz said during summary briefings tied to the talks, aligning with French positions on long-term postwar deterrence.

The discussions ended with a joint appearance outside No. 10, though no formal communiqué was issued.