Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday described two days of talks in Berlin with US President Donald Trump’s envoys as “not easy” but said they had brought “real progress” on the question of security guarantees for his country.
Zelenskyy met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, discussing proposals aimed at ending the war that began with Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. He welcomed new security assurances from Washington but acknowledged that disagreements remain over the territories Ukraine might have to cede to Russia.
"There has been sufficient dialogue on the territory, and I think that, frankly speaking, we still have different positions," Zelenskyy told reporters.
US offers Nato-like security guarantees
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the talks as creating “the chance for a real peace process”, praising the US for offering “substantial” security guarantees. From Washington, Trump said he planned a call with Zelenskyy and European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Nato chief Mark Rutte.
US officials described the Berlin discussions as positive. "The basis of that agreement is basically to have really, really strong guarantees -- Article Five-like -- also a very, very strong deterrence," one official said, as quoted by AFP. "Those guarantees will not be on the table forever. Those guarantees are on the table right now if there's a conclusion that's reached in a good way."
Trump has previously ruled out formal NATO membership for Ukraine, siding with Russia in portraying Kyiv’s alliance aspirations as a trigger for Moscow’s invasion.
Territorial deadlock remains
An official briefing AFP indicated that US negotiators still want Ukraine to give up control of the eastern Donbas, including Donetsk and Lugansk, areas largely held by Moscow. "Russian President Vladimir Putin wants territory," the official said, noting that the US is pressing Ukraine to “withdraw” from these regions, a proposal Zelenskyy has resisted.
Merz reaffirmed Europe’s backing for Ukraine, slamming Moscow’s actions as “Putin’s criminal attack.”
"We will only be able to achieve lasting peace in Europe together, with a free and sovereign Ukraine, a strong Ukraine that can defend itself against Russian attacks now and in the future. The fate of Ukraine is the fate of all Europe," he said.
