Wadephul spoke in Tokyo as US President Donald Trump prepares to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The gathering follows Trump’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

“It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington,” he said at a press briefing alongside Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya.

“Firm security guarantees are central” because “Ukraine must be able to defend itself effectively even after a ceasefire and peace agreement,” he added.

Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders met yesterday to bolster Zelenskiy’s hand ahead of the White House meeting.

They welcomed US talk of a security guarantee for Ukraine but said Kyiv must be included in any territorial talks and its remaining land protected.