U.S. President Donald Trump’s overseas envoy will travel to Germany this weekend for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the latest effort to end the war. Steve Witkoff, leading White House mediation attempts between Ukraine and Russia, will discuss a proposed peace agreement in Berlin.
Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Berlin
The Trump administration is seeking a deal by Christmas and has held multiple rounds of talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives, though a breakthrough remains elusive. It has not yet been confirmed which European leaders will attend the Berlin talks.
According to the Wall Street Journal, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to participate. The Witkoff-Zelensky meeting follows Ukraine’s submission of a revised 20-point peace plan, building on a proposal that emerged in late November.
The status of territory in eastern Ukraine remains a key obstacle, with Kyiv refusing to cede illegally occupied land and Moscow insisting on full control of the Donbas region unless Ukraine withdraws. Zelensky has expressed skepticism regarding the White House’s latest proposal concerning the territorial question.
The U.S. proposal suggests Ukraine’s forces withdraw from the region, transforming it into a “special economic zone.” Zelensky questioned what would prevent Russia from advancing or infiltrating the area, stating, “What will restrain [Russia] from advancing? Or from infiltrating disguised as civilians?”
While Ukraine and its European allies have acknowledged progress in amending the initial plan, which was seen as favoring Russia, recent reports suggest Trump is growing impatient with Zelensky and European leaders. In a recent interview with Politico, Trump labeled European leaders “weak” and reiterated calls for Ukraine to hold elections.
Zelensky stated elections could be held within 90 days with sufficient security support from the U.S. and Europe. Elections have been suspended since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
As the White House pursues diplomatic efforts, European nations are focused on supporting Ukraine, including discussions on security guarantees and funding. Ukraine faces a significant financial shortfall, requiring an additional €135.7 billion (£119 billion; $159 billion) over the next two years.
On Friday, European Union governments agreed to indefinitely freeze approximately €210 billion (£185 billion; $247 billion) in Russian assets held in Europe. This move aims to potentially loan the funds to Ukraine if a deal is reached at an upcoming EU summit, providing financial assistance for military and reconstruction efforts.
The Kremlin has condemned the asset freeze as theft and Russia’s central bank intends to sue Euroclear, the Belgian bank holding the majority of the frozen assets. Negotiations continue regarding the structure of repurposing the Russian assets, with Belgium expressing legal concerns.
The latest peace plan also envisions Ukraine’s rapid accession to the European Union. The Financial Times reported that Brussels supports Ukraine’s swift entry into the bloc, a proposal included in Ukraine’s draft submitted to Washington. Ukraine formally applied to join the EU days after the 2022 invasion, but full membership remains several years away, potentially as early as January 2027.
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