Berlin – A potential pathway to peace in Ukraine appears to be emerging following intense diplomatic talks in Berlin today between Ukrainian and U.S. officials, led by President Zelenskyy and a delegation representing President Trump. While meaningful disagreements remain, especially concerning potential territorial concessions, the discussions-which included exploring security guarantees for Ukraine mirroring NATOS Article Five-have been described as the most promising since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. A broader meeting of European leaders is scheduled to follow, signaling a concerted international effort to de-escalate the conflict.
Aktual.: December 15, 2025, 6:40 PM
Published: December 15, 2025, 4:58 PM
Berlin – Negotiations between Ukrainian and U.S. officials are ongoing, though disagreements persist regarding potential territorial concessions to Russia. This came during a press conference today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, officials stated, would mirror Article Five of the NATO treaty.
President Zelenskyy said earlier discussions with the American delegation, led by President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, were productive.
German Chancellor Merz Sees Real Chance for Peace in Ukraine
A genuine peace process in Ukraine is now a realistic possibility, perhaps the most promising since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this evening during a press conference. President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian negotiators will continue talks with the United States, despite differing views on making territorial concessions to Russia. The two sides held two rounds of discussions on Sunday and today regarding potential pathways to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
“We now have a chance for a real peace process for Ukraine. This seedling is still small, but the chance is real,” Merz told reporters. He added that there is currently “great diplomatic momentum, perhaps the greatest since the beginning of the war.”
Ukrainian and American officials met at the German Chancellor’s residence in Berlin on Sunday evening and again this afternoon to discuss ending the war. President Zelenskyy participated in the Ukrainian side of the talks, later describing the discussions as difficult but productive.
During the press conference with Chancellor Merz, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian negotiators would continue discussions with their American counterparts. He explained that the positions of Washington and Kyiv diverge primarily on the “painful” issue of territorial concessions to Russia. He emphasized, however, that the U.S. is not demanding concessions from Ukraine, but rather relaying the claims Moscow is making on Ukrainian territory. Sources indicate that American negotiators are pressing Ukraine to relinquish control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to withdraw from portions of those areas still under Ukrainian control.
Zelenskyy and Merz are scheduled to meet with a selection of European leaders. The meeting at the Chancellery will include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and representatives from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also attend. According to a U.S. official quoted by Reuters, President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will also participate in this evening’s discussions, with President Trump expected to join by phone.
U.S. Offers Ukraine Security Guarantees Similar to NATO’s Article Five
Security guarantees for Ukraine will be modeled after Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty, a U.S. official said following the Berlin negotiations on a peaceful resolution to the war. The official also stated that President Trump is satisfied with the current state of the discussions. The focus of today’s talks, the official said, was primarily on security guarantees.
Significant progress has been made in aligning the positions of Ukraine and Russia, which launched the war with its invasion in February 2022. According to Reuters, approximately 90 percent of the disputed issues have now been resolved.
“The basis of the agreement is to essentially have very strong guarantees, like Article Five, and also very strong deterrence,” the AFP quoted the U.S. official as saying. Article Five of the alliance treaty, a cornerstone of NATO, considers an attack against one member state an attack against all. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, expressed confidence that Russia would agree to the guarantees.
The U.S. official also said that discussions focused on Russia’s territorial demands. Moscow, among other things, is demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from all parts of the Donbas region, even those not currently under Russian control. Ukraine has repeatedly refused to cede territory to Russia. “The final decision on territory will be up to Ukraine,” the Reuters quoted the U.S. representative as saying. He added that President Zelenskyy will discuss the territorial issues with his team.
“Hopefully, we are on the path to peace,” the U.S. representative said. He noted that negotiations will continue at the working group level over the weekend in the United States, and that U.S. negotiators are prepared to travel to Russia if necessary.
The official also mentioned that Russia, which opposes Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, is open to Ukraine joining the European Union.
