European and Ukrainian leaders have talked with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon. During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin following a teleconference with Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that any agreement regarding Ukraine must first include a ceasefire. Merz added that a legal recognition of Russian ownership of Ukraine cannot happen. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stressed that "there can be no discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine." He also said that Trump assured him he would contact him after the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss the results and next steps. This is a roundup of news about Russia's war in Ukraine on Wednesday, August 13: