BERLIN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday that European leaders had sent a proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump concerning territorial concessions that Ukraine is prepared to make, and meetings will follow to discuss the issue.

Speaking to reporters alongside visiting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Merz said the proposal followed a telephone conversation the previous day with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Merz said they had made clear to Trump that the question of Ukrainian territorial concessions must first be answered by the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people.

Further talks with the American government were planned this weekend, and there may be a meeting in Berlin at the beginning of next week, he noted.

"Whether the American government will participate depends very much on the joint drafting of the papers that are currently being worked on," Merz added.

He stressed that any negotiated solution must safeguard European security interests and must not be at the expense of the unity of the European Union and NATO. Enditem