Merz: No breakthrough likely this week on US peace deal for Ukraine

No breakthrough is likely this week on a peace deal for Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday after consultations with European Union leaders.

"It is a laborious process," Merz said after discussions on the sidelines of the European Union-African Union summit in the Angolan capital Luanda. "At best, there will be minor steps forward this week," he added.

The comments came after US, European and Ukrainian representatives met for high-level talks in Geneva on Sunday to discuss Washington's new peace proposal to end the conflict.

Ukraine's European allies have pushed back on the plan in its original form, which heavily favours Russia.

The original 28-point document would require Kiev to cede large swathes of territory to Russia and limit the size of its military, among other measures.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "substantial" progress was made in Geneva. Negotiators from the United States and Ukraine have drawn up a revised peace framework following the talks.

Merz said "the next step must be for Russia to come to the table."

"And if this is possible, then every effort will have been worth it."

US peace plan for Ukraine: 'Direction is positive'

The European Union's most senior officials welcomed the progress made over the weekend but stressed that more work needs to be done.

"Some issues remain to be resolved, but the direction is positive," said European Council President António Costa, who chaired the meeting of EU leaders.

"What matters now is that we move forward as partners, united by our shared goal," he added.

"Peace cannot be a temporary truce. It must be a lasting solution."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking alongside Costa, listed some of the EU's most pressing concerns.

"Ukraine's territory and sovereignty must be respected. Only Ukraine, as a sovereign country, can make decisions regarding its armed forces," she said.

Von der Leyen also mentioned "the plight of the abducted and missing Ukrainian children. Each and every one of them must come home."

The commission president also stated that more talks are to be held with members of the so-called coalition of the willing on Tuesday.

Costa also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the EU consultations.

"It is of great importance that Ukraine is participating in the development of the joint EU position on an equal footing. We appreciate the respect," Zelensky wrote on X afterwards.

The Ukrainian president said he briefed Costa on the negotiations in Geneva and key priorities.

"We keep working in good faith to achieve peace for Europe," Zelensky said.

Wadephul: Territorial concessions among most problematic points

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul earlier said progress was being made on the peace plan, with issues concerning Europe and NATO having been removed from the draft deal.

"This is a decisive success that we achieved yesterday," he told Deutschlandfunk radio station.

The minister declined to offer further details of the talks, but said it was clear that nothing can be "agreed over the heads" of the Europeans and Ukraine.

Ukraine's sovereignty must be preserved, he said, arguing that only Kiev can decide when and what concessions it makes. 

One of the most problematic points is the question of possible territorial concessions, Wadephul said. The current front line must be the starting point for negotiations, not the end point.

Ultimately, both parties to the conflict must be able to support an agreement. However, as the instigator of the war, Russia must "essentially bear the consequences," the minister said.