Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a set of peace proposals negotiated with US officials could be finalised within days, after which American envoys will present them directly to the Kremlin.
Berlin Talks Yield Progress, But Key Hurdles Remain
The revelation came after two days of intensive talks in Berlin, where US officials stated they had resolved approximately 90% of the problematic issues between Kyiv and Moscow. Despite this positive spin, a conclusive end to the conflict remains elusive, not least because the Russian side was absent from the discussions.
In the early hours of Tuesday, President Zelenskyy indicated he expected a finalised package of documents to be prepared "today or tomorrow." He stated the US Congress is expected to vote on proposed security guarantees for Ukraine, which he said would "mirror article 5" of Nato, referring to the alliance's collective defence clause.
Following this, American diplomats would hold consultations with Russia, potentially leading to high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.
The Sticking Point: Territory and Security
The most significant obstacle remains the issue of land. Former US President Donald Trump's team has pushed for Ukraine to relinquish the parts of the Donbas region it still controls. Kyiv, however, insists on freezing the frontline at its current position.
"We are discussing the territorial issue. You know it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no consensus on it yet," Zelenskyy admitted after the Berlin talks.
The US negotiation team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has floated a compromise: Ukraine would withdraw from certain areas, but Russia would not advance, creating a demilitarised "free economic zone." Zelenskyy was adamant, however, stating: "A 'free economic zone' does not mean under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Absolutely."
International Support and Kremlin Resistance
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations issued a joint statement suggesting troops from a "coalition of the willing" could assist Ukraine with force regeneration and securing its skies and seas. They carefully avoided equating this with a Nato Article 5 guarantee.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin responded dismissively. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not seen the details of the proposed security guarantees, and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov declared Moscow would not agree to Nato troops in Ukraine "under any circumstances."
While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested peace was closer than at any point since the full-scale invasion began, European officials privately concede the current talks are partly aimed at keeping the prospective Trump administration engaged in supporting Ukraine, rather than expecting an imminent breakthrough with Moscow.
Warning of 'Turbulence' if Putin Says No
Recording a message after his plane took off from Berlin en route to the Netherlands, President Zelenskyy issued a stark warning about the consequences of Russian intransigence.
"If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with exactly what we are experiencing on our plane right now – turbulence," he said. He expressed his belief that the United States would then apply further sanctions pressure and provide Ukraine with more weapons, calling this a "fair request."
The critical next step will be the presentation of the plans to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has shown no public sign of willingness to compromise on his core war aims. The success or failure of this diplomatic push now hangs in the balance.
