German media focused intensely on the Washington summit. Morning reports detailed Trump's pre-summit stance, explicitly ruling out Crimea's return and Ukraine's NATO membership, while pressing for a rapid peace deal. Throughout the day, European leaders, including Chancellor Merz, engaged to support Zelenskyy and navigate potential pitfalls, with Merz making a spontaneous trip to prevent a deal at Ukraine's expense. The most significant development occurred when Trump abruptly interrupted ongoing discussions with European leaders and President Zelenskyy to place a direct phone call to Russian President Putin. This surprising move was followed by Trump's announcement that preparations for a potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting were underway, with Merz suggesting it could happen within two weeks. A clear divergence emerged, with European leaders insisting on a ceasefire as a precondition, directly contradicting Trump's stance.