Kathmandu, May 19: German Chancellor Frederick Mertz has announced that he, along with leaders from Britain, France, and Poland, will hold a summit with the U.S. President on Monday, amid rising concerns over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The announcement follows Mertz’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome, and comes ahead of planned talks between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump has expressed interest in ending the bloodshed in Ukraine, stating on Saturday that he is committed to pursuing peace through direct dialogue with Putin. He also confirmed plans to call Putin at 10 AM on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russia launched its largest drone attack yet, deploying nearly 300 unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine. The attack underscores the escalating intensity of the conflict.

Despite heightened tensions, there have been small diplomatic breakthroughs. On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul and agreed to:

• Exchange 1,000 prisoners of war
• Submit proposals for a potential ceasefire

However, neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nor President Putin were present at the Istanbul meeting.

The upcoming summit between U.S. and European leaders signals renewed urgency in addressing the war, as the international community pushes for a peaceful resolution.