Ukraine Peace Talks Advance in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is continuing high-stakes peace talks in Berlin with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, marking the second day of intensive negotiations. These discussions, following "a lot of progress" made on Sunday, aim to forge a political agreement to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two, as reported by Modern Diplomacy on Monday.

The talks, described by Ukrainian officials as having yielded "real progress," are centered on critical issues including robust security guarantees for Ukraine and potential territorial concessions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Monday that these discussions have created "the chance for a real peace process," according to euractiv.

U.S. officials have indicated that Washington is offering "NATO-like" security guarantees to Kyiv, a significant development in the Trump administration's push for a swift resolution. This comes as the U.S. seeks to finalize a peace plan, initially a 28-point proposal that has since been revised to 20 points after consultations with Ukrainian and European representatives, The Kyiv Independent reported on Saturday.

Beyond the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, a broader summit involving key European leaders is also underway in Berlin, underscoring the continent's unified effort to address the conflict. Leaders from Britain, France, Italy, Poland, and Finland, alongside NATO and EU chiefs, are participating to show support for Ukraine, euractiv confirmed on Monday.

Despite the reported progress on security assurances, significant disagreements persist, particularly concerning Ukraine's territorial integrity. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy acknowledged that differences remain on the question of what territories Ukraine would have to cede to Russia, as stated by the NZ Herald on Monday.

This pivotal week for Europe sees negotiators working on three main documents: a comprehensive peace plan, security guarantees for Ukraine, and a framework for reconstruction. The outcome of these high-level meetings could reshape European security and influence Ukraine's future sovereignty, Modern Diplomacy highlighted on Monday.

• The ongoing conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has been widely recognized as Europe's deadliest since World War II. As of December 2025, Russian troops occupy nearly 20% of Ukraine, leading to millions displaced and significant casualties, according to wikipedia. The war has caused immense human and economic scars, with over a million people reportedly killed or injured by November 2024, The Indian Express noted.
• The core of the emerging peace proposal revolves around unprecedented security guarantees for Ukraine, described by U.S. officials as "NATO Article 5-like commitments." These guarantees include extensive monitoring mechanisms and measures aimed at deterring future aggression, as reported by Suspilne on Monday. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has signaled a willingness to abandon NATO membership ambitions in exchange for these legally binding Western assurances, according to the Helsinki Times.
• Territorial disputes remain a major sticking point, with Russia demanding Ukraine withdraw its forces from the entire Donetsk region and abandon its bid to join NATO. Ukrainian officials, however, have rejected suggestions of creating a demilitarized economic zone in eastern Ukraine and insist on halting fighting along the existing front line without officially ceding territory, The columbian reported on Monday.
• European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, issued a joint statement welcoming the "significant progress" in Trump's peace efforts. They committed to providing robust security guarantees, including sustained support for Ukraine's armed forces and potentially a European-led "multinational force" operating inside Ukraine, as detailed by the Swedish government on Monday.
• Discussions also encompass the economic implications of the war and Ukraine's reconstruction. U.S. officials confirmed that BlackRock and the World Bank are working pro bono on financial aspects, including the use of frozen Russian assets, reconstruction funding, and compensation for war victims, Suspilne stated on Monday. EU foreign ministers are also meeting to discuss new sanctions against Russia and the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to underwrite a major loan to Ukraine, Modern Diplomacy added.
• Ukrainian public opinion, as revealed by a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) poll conducted from November 26 to December 13, shows strong defiance. While 72% would approve a peace settlement freezing the conflict along current frontlines with security guarantees, 75% rejected a plan involving withdrawal from Donbas without concrete protections, The Kyiv Independent reported on Monday.
• British MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli accused Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday of "dragging out negotiations" and deliberately stalling peace efforts, according to The Washington Post. Metreweli suggested that Putin remains determined to "subjugate Ukraine and harass NATO members," operating in a space "between peace and war" by testing the West with tactics just below the threshold of direct conflict.
• The initial U.S.-proposed 28-point peace plan faced criticism for favoring Russia's position, leading to its revision following input from Ukraine and European nations. The current 20-point plan is still under discussion, with the Kremlin reportedly setting conditions to reject drafts that do not align with its demands, the Institute for the Study of War reported on Sunday.