BERLIN 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said Ukraine's allies will continue discussions on possible security guarantees for Kyiv during their videoconference meeting this week. 

Speaking at a joint news conference with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter in Berlin, Merz said the leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing" will analyze the situation, as diplomatic efforts to arrange a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian leaders have stalled. 

"The issue of security guarantees will also play a role in this meeting," he said, referring to the virtual meeting scheduled for Thursday. "The most important security guarantee we can provide at the moment is sufficient support for the Ukrainian army in its efforts to defend this country. We want to continue this," Merz stressed. 

"We know that we must continue this even beyond possible ceasefire negotiations and peace negotiations. Ukraine must be able to defend itself in the long term, and we want to help it do so, now and in the future," he added. 

The chancellor also expressed the German government's support for Geneva as a venue for a possible peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I also reassured the president that we consider Geneva, to be a suitable venue for a ceasefire agreement. I will propose this again at the coalition of the willing meeting the day after tomorrow,” Merz said.