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Zelenskiy Holds Crucial Berlin Talks with U.S. Envoys on Ukraine Peace
Ukraine resumes Berlin negotiations with U.S. envoys, discussing NATO stance, security guarantees, and reconstruction, as Europe seeks to fund Kyiv amid ongoing conflict.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-15
Zelenskiy Holds Crucial Berlin Talks with U.S. Envoys on Ukraine Peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy resumed high-level talks with U.S. envoys in Berlin on Monday, after a day of discussions with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday, amid cautious optimism over progress toward ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

Ukraine indicated on Sunday that it might relinquish its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, though details on other critical issues—such as the future of Ukrainian territory—remain unresolved. The negotiations aim to persuade Russia to agree to a ceasefire, a key prerequisite for any peace plan.

“There is a great deal of work underway on the diplomatic track right now,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X, without providing specifics.

The Kremlin emphasized that Ukraine renouncing NATO membership is a fundamental element in the discussions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects updates from the U.S. following the Berlin talks.

Europe’s Pivotal Week
The negotiations coincide with a decisive week for European diplomacy, as an EU summit on Thursday is set to decide whether the bloc can underwrite a massive loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian central bank assets. EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to agree on new sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, although potential delays in EU trade deals with Latin America could complicate the bloc’s unity.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stressed the urgency, saying, “The most important thing for us is now to ensure we can finance Ukraine… to show the rest of the world that Europe is a strong player.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who met Zelenskiy ahead of the U.S. negotiations, expressed cautious optimism, noting that parties are “probably closer to a peace agreement than we have been at any time during these four years.”

Security Guarantees and Reconstruction
Discussions are reportedly focusing on three major documents: a 20-point peace plan framework, security guarantees for Kyiv, and a plan for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Key European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and leaders from Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, are attending Monday’s sessions.

Russia continues to demand that Ukraine officially renounce NATO ambitions, withdraw from roughly 10% of the Donbas region still under Kyiv’s control, and remain a neutral country without foreign troops stationed on its soil. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Russian control over Donbas could be a precursor to further aggression, emphasizing the stakes for Ukraine and the region.

As Berlin hosts these critical discussions, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could pave the way toward lasting peace and security in Eastern Europe.
Tagged:

Ukraine

NATO

Zelenskiy

USDiplomacy

BerlinTalks
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