Merz gave Zelensky some advice to avoid a new scandal in the White House.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave some advice to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky so that he could avoid a new scandal during a meeting with American leader Donald Trump at the White House scheduled for August 18. He stated this on August 17 in an interview with ARD TV channel.

"I gave Vladimir Zelensky some advice on how he should behave," Merz said.

In addition, the Chancellor added that during his own visit to Washington, he was well prepared. Merz also clarified that he intends to discuss the results of the meeting of the Russian-US summit in Alaska with the "coalition of the willing."

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On August 16, Zelensky announced a meeting with Trump, which will be held on August 18 in Washington. Later that day, Michaela Kufner, editor-in-chief of the Deutsche Welle policy department (DW is recognized as a foreign agent and an undesirable organization in the Russian Federation), pointed out the absence of a direct invitation from European leaders to this summit. She called the question of who will go to the talks with the Ukrainian president "open."

The Politico newspaper learned on August 16 that Zelensky's "favorite interlocutor", Finnish President Alexander Stubb, could become a potential companion in negotiations with Trump.

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