In a significant diplomatic development, the United States has proposed providing NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine during high-stakes talks in Berlin. Envoys dispatched by former President Donald Trump delivered the unprecedented offer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, as negotiators reported progress towards ending Russia's invasion, now in its 1,392nd day.
Berlin Summit: A Glimmer of Hope and Hard Bargains
The discussions, held at the German chancellery, have injected a dose of cautious optimism among European leaders. US officials, however, cautioned that such a security deal would not remain on the table indefinitely. European participants stressed that the outcome would shape continental security for decades to come.
Following the talks, President Zelenskyy stated he would urge Washington to impose further sanctions on Russia and supply more advanced weaponry to Kyiv, including long-range systems, if Moscow rejected the proposed peace framework. "I think America will apply sanctions pressure and give us more weapons if he [Putin] rejects everything," Zelenskyy told reporters. He also expressed support for a temporary ceasefire, particularly to halt strikes on energy infrastructure during the Christmas period.
From the White House, Donald Trump remarked, "We're trying to get it done... We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we're closer now than we have been ever."
European Reactions and a Stark Warning from MI6
The Berlin talks elicited notable comments from European leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz observed, "For the first time since the war began, the possibility of a ceasefire is conceivable." Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, departing Berlin, noted a shift in tone: "Today I had the feeling for the first time … that everyone was behaving like allies from one camp." He highlighted the gravity of the US offer, stating American negotiators had committed to a military response if Russia attacked Ukraine again after a deal.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tempered optimism, noting that while security guarantees seemed "clearer and more credible," difficult questions on territories and Russia's true intentions remained. This scepticism was echoed by the head of Britain's MI6, Blaise Metreweli, who in her first public speech accused Vladimir Putin of stalling negotiations and testing the West with tactics falling "just below the threshold of war." She asserted Putin remained determined to "subjugate Ukraine and harass NATO members."
Cyber Attacks and Naval Strikes Escalate Tensions
The diplomatic manoeuvres were shadowed by parallel escalations. Germany's lower house of parliament suffered a major email outage on Monday, suspected to be a cyber-attack coinciding with the sensitive talks. Simultaneously, Ukraine announced a landmark naval operation. Ukrainian underwater drones, dubbed 'sea babies,' struck and disabled a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine at the Novorossiysk naval base—a key Black Sea hub where Russia has relocated vessels for safety.
A Ukrainian navy spokesperson heralded the strike on such a complex target as "another turning point" in the maritime conflict, underscoring Kyiv's capacity to inflict serious damage.
Financial Front: Frozen Assets and Sanctions
On the economic battlefield, Russia's central bank launched a claim for $230bn in damages against the Euroclear clearing house, a retaliatory warning against Western plans to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine. Meanwhile, EU leaders are poised to decide on using €210bn in immobilised Russian funds to provide Kyiv with a loan for defence and economic support.
Further steps include a new international claims commission, to be launched in The Hague, aimed at compensating Ukraine for war damages. The EU also adopted fresh sanctions targeting Russian oil traders Murtaza Lakhani and Etibar Eyyub for helping Moscow circumvent crude export restrictions, marking the 19th sanctions package to date.
