Umerov is holding talks in Berlin with representatives from Germany, France and the UK
Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, arrived in Berlin on 26 May for talks with representatives from Germany, France and the UK.
This was reported by POLITICO, citing two sources familiar with the meeting.
According to the publication, Umerov is due to hold talks with national security advisers from the E3 group, which comprises Germany, France and the UK.
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declined to comment on the meeting, describing it as “confidential”. The Ukrainian embassy in Berlin also declined to comment.
The day before, Umerov was in Brussels, where he held talks with a representative of the European Commission on cooperation in the defence industry.
The talks in Berlin are taking place following Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv over the weekend and new statements from Moscow regarding “consistent and systematic strikes”.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged diplomats and foreign nationals to leave Kyiv “as soon as possible”. The European Union’s ambassador to Ukraine rejected this demand, stating: “We are staying in Kyiv. We are standing with Ukraine.”
The publication also notes that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken of a possible scaling back of American involvement in peace talks regarding Ukraine. According to him, the negotiation process “has not been productive”.
Against this backdrop, European officials have been discussing the possibility of direct contacts with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was mentioned among the possible negotiators, but she stated that she did not consider herself a suitable candidate.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul previously stated that the E3 countries are “making a new attempt to return to the negotiating table”, and that Europe’s role is set to strengthen in the coming months.
POLITICO also reports on tensions between Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a proposal for Ukraine’s ‘associated membership’ of the European Union prior to possible full accession.
Zelenskyy rejected this idea, stating that “Ukraine’s place in the European Union must be full, complete and equal”.
According to the publication, Merz viewed the option of associate membership as a possible compromise within the framework of a potential peace settlement.
One EU diplomat, commenting to POLITICO, noted the striking coincidence in timing between Merz’s public statements and Umerov’s visit to Berlin.
