German Chancellor Friedrich Merz waits to welcome Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that he would suggest Geneva as a venue for Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks at a Thursday meeting of some 30 countries to discuss post-war guarantees for Ukraine.
"Geneva would be a suitable venue for a ceasefire agreement," Merz said at a news conference alongside Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter.
"The day after tomorrow, I will once again propose to the so-called 'coalition of the willing' that an invitation (to Geneva) be extended," he said.
The "coalition of the willing" put together by France and Britain has held talks for months to try to define plans for what countries could contribute militarily for Ukraine to deter Russia from attacking it again once there is a final truce.
France will host a mostly virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest efforts to provide Ukraine with security support once there is a peace agreement and to denounce what Ukraine's allies see as Moscow's unwillingness to negotiate.
(Reporting by Andreas RinkeWriting by Friederike HeineEditing by Madeline Chambers and Peter Graff)
