Ukraine-US Peace Talks Continue in Berlin
Negotiations between Ukraine and the United States, aimed at securing a peace agreement with Russia, are ongoing in Berlin for a second day. The discussions have involved high-level delegations from both nations, with a US readout indicating that "a lot of progress was made" following Sunday's session.
Participants and Discussions
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his chief negotiator Rustem Umerov met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The five-hour meeting also included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich was also present. This marked the first direct meeting between Mr. Witkoff and President Zelensky.
The same teams resumed discussions on Monday morning. Additional European leaders and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are anticipated to join further talks with the Ukrainian and US delegations later on Monday.
Ukraine's Stance on NATO and Security Guarantees
Prior to the Monday session, President Zelensky signaled a willingness to forgo Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO in exchange for robust security guarantees. He stated that recognizing a lack of support for Ukraine's NATO bid from some US and European partners, his country is now seeking strong security guarantees modeled after NATO's Article 5 clause of mutual protection. He characterized this position as a "compromise" on Ukraine's part.
Peace Plan Proposals
Central to the Berlin discussions is a 20-point peace plan proposal submitted by Ukraine to the US last week. This plan is presented as a counter to an earlier American proposal. While specific details of Ukraine's plan have not been disclosed, President Zelensky previously stated that the points should serve as a "foundation" for establishing provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction and security guarantees.
International Positions on NATO Membership
Russia has consistently maintained that Kyiv's membership in NATO constitutes a "red line" and has demanded a permanent cessation of any Ukrainian aspirations to join the alliance. The Kremlin reiterated on Monday that this issue is a "cornerstone" requiring special discussion. The US has also repeatedly stated its preference against Ukraine becoming a NATO member. However, Ukraine has expressed concerns that a peace agreement without comprehensive security guarantees might not deter future Russian aggression.