With a clear signal, former US President Donald Trump (78) has re-entered the Ukraine conflict – and he has done so emphatically. In a statement on his platform "Truth Social", he called for a "30-day unconditional ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. His warning: If this is not adhered to, the conflicting parties face new sanctions – not only from the US, but also from its partner countries.
Significantly, the post appeared only a short time after Trump's phone calls with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (69, CDU) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (47). In an unusually diplomatic tone, Trump announced that, in the event of a re-election, he would work together with European states for lasting peace.
The conversation between Merz and Trump was almost entirely focused on Ukraine, according to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius (59). They agreed on close cooperation to end the Russian invasion. Chancellor Merz also supports the demand for an immediate end to the fighting.