Germany’s Merz plays down suggestions of clash with Trump, says they had ‘constructive’ call<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
Asked about Trump\u2019s comments about his recent calls with Europeans, Merz plays down the tensions between the two sides.<\/strong><\/p>\n He says they had \u201ca very detailed conversation\u201d discussing some proposals, with the focus on \u201cwhat territorial concessions Ukraine<\/a> is prepared to make.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n But Merz said \u201cit was a question that \u2026 the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people must answer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He says that if the talks progress as he expects them to, there will be further conversations with US officials over the weekend,<\/strong> and then \u201cpossibly a meeting here in Berlin beginning of next week,\u201d which could see US participation.<\/p>\n But he says that overall Trump gave the impression that \u201che is prepared to go down this path with us,\u201d and that the US president \u201cknows that the Europeans must also be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n He calls the call \u201cconstructive\u201d with both sides showing \u201cmutual respect.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n