German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump has received a new proposal outlining territorial concessions that Ukraine might be willing to consider to end the Russian occupation, the Kyiv Post reports.
Merz said the document was submitted after he and other European leaders held a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, the Telegraph reports.
"It mainly concerns the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is willing to make," Merz told reporters, stressing that only "the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people" can decide on such matters.
Speaking at an online press conference earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that three documents are being prepared as part of a broader peace package: a 20-point framework that continues to evolve; a separate security guarantee document drafted together with American and European partners; and a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Ukraine.
His comments come as numerous peace proposals circulate in Washington and Europe. A 28-point plan drafted by US officials with input from the Kremlin was released in late November.
In its original form, it would have required Ukraine to abandon its bid for NATO membership, limit the size of its military, and surrender territory that Russian forces have so far failed to capture on the battlefield.
The leak sparked weeks of chaotic diplomacy, with Ukraine and its European partners rushing to counter the proposal with an alternative that is less biased towards Moscow.
Their effort produced a new 20-point plan from Kiev, which is now under discussion with the Trump administration.
Tensions have also been heightened by signals from Washington on economic policy. A US Treasury Department document released on Wednesday said American companies could continue to do business with Russia's Lukoil until just after midnight on January 17, further adding to uncertainty in Western policy.
Merz, speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, warned that Europe should not force Ukraine into an agreement it cannot accept.
"It would be a mistake to push the Ukrainian president towards a peace that his people will not accept after four years of suffering and death," he said.
Trump on Wednesday expressed frustration with Ukraine and European allies Germany, France and the United Kingdom, saying "strong words" were exchanged during a phone call with European leaders.
Merz said additional talks with US officials are planned this weekend and that a broader international meeting on Ukraine "could take place early next week."
Whether Washington participates, he said, depends on the joint draft proposals that are now being finalized.
He added that his conversation with Trump gave him "the strong impression that he is ready to pursue this path with us, because he knows that Europeans and their interests need to be heard."
Merz described the exchange of statements as constructive, saying both sides spoke clearly and with "mutual respect."
Merz outlined three priorities for continued diplomatic efforts: securing a ceasefire, ensuring it is backed by "strong legal and material guarantees," and reaching a solution that protects European security without undermining the unity of NATO or the European Union. /Telegraph
