High-stakes negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine kicked off in Berlin on December 14, 2025, as U.S. and Ukrainian officials converged in the German capital amid mounting pressure, persistent battlefield violence, and deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees. The talks, which follow months of diplomatic maneuvering and escalating hostilities, are seen as a potential turning point in a conflict that has devastated communities, drained resources, and unsettled Europe’s geopolitical landscape.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were seen arriving in downtown Berlin on Sunday morning, according to the German news agency dpa. Their presence underscored the Trump administration’s renewed push to broker a cease-fire or peace deal, a campaign that has gathered momentum but also drawn criticism for favoring Russian interests in its initial proposals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has remained defiant in the face of Russian military advances, confirmed that a series of meetings would take place in Berlin involving Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials. In a late-night address on December 13, he emphasized the stakes: “Most importantly, I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, concerning the foundation of peace — a political agreement to end the war.”
The diplomatic flurry comes as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. On December 13, Russian forces launched more than 450 drones and 30 missiles across Ukraine, causing widespread damage, especially in the Odesa region, which suffered massive power outages. “The main strike again hit our energy supply, the south and the Odesa region,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, adding that more than a dozen civilian facilities had been damaged. “All necessary services are currently working to restore electricity and water supply in our communities affected by Russia’s overnight attack.”
Despite these attacks, Zelenskyy made a dramatic visit to the frontline city of Kupyansk on December 12, posting a video from the embattled area to counter Russian claims of control. “The Russians kept going on about Kupyansk. The reality speaks for itself,” he declared, standing near the town center. The visit—one of his most dangerous to date—was a clear signal of Ukrainian resilience ahead of what could be a decisive week for diplomacy.
Negotiators face formidable obstacles. Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, has demanded Ukraine withdraw its forces from the remaining parts of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control and abandon its ambitions to join NATO. These conditions have been flatly rejected by Ukraine. According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, “This area is Russian territory,” referencing Russia’s 2022 annexation of the Donbas region. Ushakov further warned that even if a demilitarized zone is established, Russian police and national guard would remain in parts of eastern Ukraine—a demand likely to be a nonstarter for Kyiv.
These hard-line positions have complicated the search for compromise. The Trump administration, in November, pressed Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace plan that critics, including many European allies, said was heavily tilted toward Moscow’s interests. In response, Ukraine submitted a 20-point counterproposal this week, seeking stronger security guarantees and more balanced terms. European leaders—particularly British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—have worked to revise the plan to ensure Ukraine’s security against future Russian aggression.
“The chance is considerable at this moment, and it matters for our every city, for our every Ukrainian community,” Zelenskyy said in his address. “We are working to ensure that peace for Ukraine is dignified, and to secure a guarantee — a guarantee, above all — that Russia will not return to Ukraine for a third invasion.”
Yet, the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine—a point pushed by Washington—remains fraught. Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during wartime, and officials have repeatedly dismissed the idea as unworkable given the ongoing airstrikes, active front lines, and the displacement of millions. Still, Zelenskyy has said he would be willing to hold elections if sufficient security could be guaranteed by the United States and other allies.
The complexity of the talks is further heightened by Russia’s rejection, on December 12, of a proposal to hold a referendum allowing Ukrainians to decide on territorial concessions in the Donbas region. “The contribution of Ukrainians and Europeans to these documents is unlikely to be constructive,” Ushakov told Russian state TV, warning that Moscow would have “very strong objections” to any changes that undermine its territorial claims.
Meanwhile, the European Union is preparing to hold its own summit in Brussels on December 18 and 19, with a focus on securing financial support for Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine needs approximately 135 billion euros ($158.3 billion) over the next two years, facing a budget shortfall of 71.7 billion euros in 2026 alone. One proposal under discussion is a reparations loan for Kyiv, potentially funded by using frozen Russian assets—a move that could further complicate relations with Moscow.
On the ground, the violence shows little sign of abating. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 138 attack drones and ballistic missiles overnight, with 110 intercepted or downed but several hitting targets in six locations. Zelenskyy reported that hundreds of thousands of families remained without power in the south, east, and northeast, and that efforts to restore electricity, heat, and water were ongoing. Over the past week, he said, Russia had launched more than 1,500 strike drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types at Ukraine.
Russia, for its part, claimed to have intercepted 235 Ukrainian drones late Saturday and early Sunday. In the Belgorod region, a drone strike injured a man and set his house on fire, while Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted oil depots and refineries in Russia’s Volgograd and Krasnodar regions, causing fires and property damage but, according to Russian authorities, no serious injuries at industrial sites.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy and other European leaders on December 15, has warned that the stakes go beyond Ukraine. Speaking at a party conference in Munich, Merz said, “If Ukraine falls, he won’t stop,” referring to Putin. He cautioned that Putin’s aim is “a fundamental change to the borders in Europe, the restoration of the old Soviet Union within its borders.” Putin, however, has denied any intention to restore the Soviet Union or attack European allies.
With so many moving parts, the Berlin talks have become a focal point for international hopes—and anxieties—about a possible path to peace. As Zelenskyy put it, “Ukraine needs peace on decent terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible. These days will be filled with diplomacy. It’s very important that it brings results.”
As the world watches, the coming days in Berlin may reveal whether diplomacy can gain ground where war has only brought suffering and stalemate.
