In Berlin on December 14, 2025, a pivotal round of negotiations unfolded as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Their mission: to seek a breakthrough in the long and grinding war between Ukraine and Russia. The talks, which extended for more than five hours, reflected both the urgency and complexity of reaching a peace deal that could finally bring relief to millions affected by the ongoing conflict.
According to BBC and DW, the negotiations centered around a potential ceasefire and the future security framework for Ukraine. As the world watched, Zelenskyy made a significant overture—he expressed readiness to drop Ukraine's longstanding bid to join NATO in exchange for legally binding Western security guarantees. "These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression," Zelenskyy told reporters before the talks, characterizing the move as a compromise on Kyiv's part after repeated rejections of NATO membership by the U.S. and some European nations.
Yet, the path to peace remains fraught with obstacles. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently demanded that Ukraine renounce its NATO ambitions as a condition for any settlement. The Kremlin’s insistence on this point is rooted in Moscow’s view of NATO expansion as a direct threat to Russian security—a stance that has shaped the course of the conflict since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Adding to the tension, the U.S. delegation floated a proposal for Ukraine to withdraw from the contested Donetsk region and establish a demilitarized free economic zone there. Zelenskyy, however, rejected this idea outright, calling it unworkable. "I do not consider this fair, because who will manage this economic zone?" he asked, pointing out the practical and security concerns of such a plan. He argued that any withdrawal of Ukrainian troops should be matched by a proportional withdrawal of Russian forces, questioning why only Ukraine should make territorial concessions.
"Today a fair possible option is we stand where we stand," Zelenskyy insisted, underscoring his refusal to cede more land to Russia. This stance resonates deeply with many Ukrainians, who have endured years of war and occupation in the eastern regions. As DW reported, Russia’s position remains equally uncompromising: Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov stated that Russian police and national guard would remain in parts of Donetsk even if a demilitarized zone were established. Ushakov warned that the search for a compromise could drag on, noting that U.S. proposals reflecting Russian demands had been "worsened" by amendments from Ukraine and its European allies.
The negotiations are set to continue, with both sides acknowledging the complexity of the issues at stake. The U.S. government, posting on Witkoff’s social media account after the marathon session, claimed that "a lot of progress was made." Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn confirmed that the talks would resume the following morning and that Zelenskyy would comment once discussions concluded.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the conflict remains painfully evident. On the night of December 13-14, Russia unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles and 138 attack drones on Ukrainian cities, according to Ukraine’s air force. While 110 drones were intercepted, strikes still hit six locations, plunging hundreds of thousands of families in the south, east, and northeast into darkness. "Hundreds of thousands of families are still without electricity in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipro regions," Zelenskyy wrote on X, lamenting the continuing hardship. Over the past week alone, Russia had launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles at Ukraine, highlighting the relentless nature of the assault.
Ukraine’s military has not remained idle. On December 14, Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Uryupinsk in Russia’s Volgograd region, causing a fire, and targeted the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, where explosions shattered windows in nearby residential buildings. According to Russian officials, their air defenses intercepted and destroyed 235 Ukrainian drones during the same period, and Russia’s aviation regulator temporarily restricted flights at ten major airports, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg, due to the perceived threat.
The war’s reach has even extended to the Black Sea, where Ukraine accused Russia of attacking the Turkish cargo vessel 'VIVA' with a drone. The ship, carrying sunflower oil to Egypt, managed to continue its journey, and no injuries were reported among the 11 crew members. Zelenskyy condemned the strike as "a strike against food security" and "a direct challenge by Russia to the whole world." The incident underscored the broader risks to regional stability and global supply chains, especially after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a halt to attacks on ports and energy facilities in talks with Putin.
Back in Berlin, the diplomatic wrangling continued against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical realities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, warned at a party conference in Munich that Putin’s goal was "a fundamental change to the borders in Europe, the restoration of the old Soviet Union within its borders." Merz’s words echoed growing concerns among European leaders about the potential for Russian expansionism. "If Ukraine falls, he won't stop," he cautioned, urging continued Western support. Putin, for his part, has denied any intention to restore the Soviet Union or attack European allies.
European public opinion is also evolving. A poll published in Bild showed that 47% of Germans support using frozen Russian assets in the EU to fund loans for Ukraine, while 34% oppose the move. The European Union recently voted to prohibit the return of around €210 billion in Russian central bank assets until Russia pays reparations and makes amends for the invasion—a measure Moscow vehemently opposes.
The diplomatic chessboard is further complicated by disagreements within NATO. The Kremlin sharply criticized remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who called on the alliance to be prepared for a large-scale war with Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Rutte’s comments as "irresponsible," accusing Western leaders of misunderstanding the realities of war and stoking unnecessary fears.
As the talks in Berlin resume, the stakes could hardly be higher. Ukraine is seeking not just an end to hostilities but a "dignified" peace, as Zelenskyy put it, one that guarantees the country’s sovereignty and security for the long term. "Only reliable guarantees can deliver peace. We count on our partners to continue working constructively as well," Zelenskyy said, reiterating his hope for tangible progress.
With the war grinding on and no easy answers in sight, the world waits to see whether diplomacy can finally outpace destruction—or whether another round of missed opportunities will prolong the agony for millions caught in the crossfire.
