Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in Berlin on December 14, 2025, stepping into a city bristling with diplomatic anticipation. The German capital, long a crossroads of European history, was once again at the heart of tense negotiations—this time, for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. As Zelenskyy arrived, so too did US President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The pair joined European officials in what many observers described as the most consequential talks on Ukraine’s future since the war erupted nearly four years ago.
The stakes could hardly be higher. According to DW, the negotiations were set against a backdrop of escalating violence. Just a day before the talks, massive Russian attacks in southern Ukraine left more than a million households without power. Zelenskyy, in a statement posted on X, painted a grim picture: “Hundreds of thousands of families are still without electricity in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipro regions.” He added, “Russia is dragging out the war and seeks to inflict as much harm as possible on our people.”
Indeed, the numbers are staggering. Over the course of the week leading up to the talks, Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types against Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that, in response, Ukrainian forces struck the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region and an oil depot in the Volgograd region. In Uryupinsk, Volgograd, a Russian regional governor said a fire broke out at an oil depot after drone debris fell on the facility.
As the diplomatic wheels turned, the violence did not abate. On December 14, a Russian drone attack struck a shopping center in Zaporizhzhya, wounding six people, including a child and a rescuer, according to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, Ukraine accused Russia of hitting a Turkish cargo vessel named ‘VIVA’ in the Black Sea on December 13. The ship, carrying sunflower oil to Egypt, was reportedly targeted by a Russian drone while sailing in Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone. “Russia delivered a targeted strike using a drone against the Turkish vessel ‘VIVA,’ which was en route to Egypt carrying sunflower oil,” Ukraine’s navy wrote on social media. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the 11 crew members, and the ship was able to continue its journey. Still, the attack sent ripples through the shipping industry and drew condemnation from Zelenskyy, who called it “a strike against food security” and “a direct challenge by Russia to the whole world.”
These incidents underscored the urgency of the Berlin negotiations. The talks, which began on December 14 and were expected to continue into the following day, were described by DW as advisor-level discussions focused on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Reconstruction of the war-ravaged country was also on the agenda, with Ukrainian officials set to meet with representatives from the US and European states. Notably, no Russian representatives were present at the table—a fact that did not go unnoticed by analysts.
Zelenskyy’s message ahead of the talks was clear and unwavering: “Ukraine needs peace on dignified terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible,” he wrote on X. “The coming days will be filled with diplomacy. It is critically important that it delivers results.” In a video message posted on Facebook, he emphasized the significance of his meetings with US representatives and European partners, stating, “The most important are my meetings with representatives of [US] President [Donald] Trump, as well as meetings with our European partners and many leading politicians about the foundation of peace—a political agreement to end the war.”
But the path to peace is anything but straightforward. The US peace plan, which has reportedly formed the basis of recent negotiations, includes large-scale territorial concessions to Russia—most notably in the Donbas region. Ukraine has, so far, rejected these terms outright. Both Russia and the US have signaled that Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO, while Kyiv continues to press for membership in the Western military alliance. The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently occupied by Russia but claimed by Ukraine, remains a sticking point. Furthermore, Ukraine is demanding comprehensive international security guarantees to ensure it does not fall victim to renewed Russian aggression in the future.
As the talks unfolded, the Kremlin made its own headlines. Responding to remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the alliance should be “prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the comments as “irresponsible.” Peskov told a state television reporter, “They have no understanding, and unfortunately, Mr. Rutte, making such irresponsible statements, simply does not understand what he is talking about.” The Kremlin has consistently rejected claims by NATO and some European leaders that it plans to attack a NATO member, but tensions remain high.
Back in Germany, public opinion on the war and its economic consequences is divided. A poll conducted by the Insa Institute for Bild found that 47% of Germans support using frozen Russian assets—totaling around €210 billion ($246.6 billion) in the EU—for loans to Ukraine. The move, which 34% opposed and 7% said they were not interested in, is highly contentious within the bloc. The EU recently created a legal basis for using these assets to fund Ukraine, with 25 of the 27 member states voting to prohibit their return to Russia indefinitely. Under the current plan, Russia would only get the money back if it pays reparations and makes full amends for its invasion. The poll also revealed that 44% of Germans want their country to maintain or increase support for Ukraine next year, while 42% prefer to reduce assistance.
As the world watched Berlin, the message from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was stark. On December 13, he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would continue his advance if Ukraine is defeated. His words echoed the fears of many in Europe who worry that the conflict could spill beyond Ukraine’s borders if not resolved.
The Berlin negotiations, then, are more than just another round of diplomatic wrangling. They are a high-wire act—an attempt to balance the urgent need for peace against the harsh realities of war, territorial integrity, and shifting alliances. As the talks continue, the people of Ukraine and much of Europe hold their breath, hoping that, this time, diplomacy might finally deliver the results so desperately needed.
With the fate of millions hanging in the balance, the coming days in Berlin could shape not just the future of Ukraine, but the security architecture of Europe for years to come.
