Merz warns Trump against Putin meeting surprises
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Donald Trump to avoid surprises in his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin in China, warning against a repeat of the 2025 "Anchorage" scenario. European leaders fear Trump may again adopt Moscow's positions. Merz spoke at an informal EU summit in Dublin, explicitly asking the US to "continue playing as part of Team Europe and Team Ukraine." He referenced the August 2025 Trump-Putin meeting that triggered an emergency European visit to Washington by French, Italian, and German leaders. The Chancellor dismissed any need for a new European security system with Russia, stating the existing framework is sufficient. He affirmed Germany's continued participation in Ukraine negotiations as self-evident.