Second day of negotiations focuses on security guarantees
Talks between Ukraine and the United States aimed at advancing a possible peace agreement with Russia continued in Berlin for a second day, following lengthy discussions on Sunday involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US envoy Steve Witkoff and senior European leaders.
Zelensky and Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov met Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, for five hours at the German chancellery. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich also attended. A US readout described the talks as making significant progress.
NATO membership traded for security assurances
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky indicated Ukraine was prepared to abandon its long-standing ambition to join NATO if strong security guarantees could be secured instead. He acknowledged that key partners in the US and Europe did not support Ukrainian NATO membership.
Zelensky said Kyiv was seeking guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence clause, describing the concession as a compromise. Ukraine fears that a peace deal without binding security measures would leave the country vulnerable to renewed Russian aggression.
Donbas and front line remain contentious
The discussions also addressed territorial issues in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky said he was open to freezing the conflict along the current front line but rejected withdrawing Ukrainian forces from areas of the Donbas still under Kyiv’s control unless Russia did the same.
The Kremlin reiterated that NATO membership for Ukraine remains a red line for Moscow and said it expected the US to present the concept discussed in Berlin. Any proposal emerging from the talks would still need to be presented to Russian authorities.
European role and frozen Russian assets
Several European leaders and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to join further talks. Discussions are also taking place within the EU over a proposal to send up to €90 billion in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s economy, though legal concerns remain.
The talks come as Ukraine faces ongoing Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure, leaving more than a million households without electricity over the weekend. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said negotiations were becoming increasingly difficult but ongoing.
