German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted an online meeting on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine, ahead of Trump’s planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week. Zelensky joined Merz in Berlin for the virtual talks, which the White House described as a “listening exercise,” appearing to play down expectations for any immediate breakthrough in efforts to end the 30-month-old conflict. Trump is scheduled to meet Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. Speaking ahead of the summit, Zelensky said Ukraine would not cede territory in the east to Russia, warning that abandoning the Donbas region would embolden Moscow to “start a third war” in the country. Ukrainian officials have said Russia is massing troops for a new offensive, expected to begin by September.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Zelensky called on Ukraine’s allies to “put pressure on Russia for an honest peace,” adding that there is “currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war.”

“We must learn from the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception by Russia,” he said. “By working together, Ukraine, the U.S., Europe and other allied nations can definitely force Russia to make peace.” Western leaders have reiterated their support for Kyiv, but diplomatic efforts have so far failed to produce a viable framework for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.