Ukrainian President Zelensky will hold further talks with US envoys in Berlin on ending the war with Russia, following lengthy Sunday discussions
BERLIN: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will push on with talks in Berlin on Monday with US President Donald Trump’s envoys on ending the war with Russia.
Zelensky’s delegation met for over five hours on Sunday with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Witkoff said afterwards that “a lot of progress was made, and they will meet again tomorrow morning.”
The meeting was held under tight security in the German chancellery.
German leader Friedrich Merz was due to host a dinner with Zelensky, European leaders, and NATO and EU chiefs on Monday.
“We want a lasting peace in Ukraine,” Merz wrote online, adding that “Ukrainian interests are also European interests.”
Zelensky said he was ready for “dialogue” on ending the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
He expressed hope Washington would back freezing the front line where it is, rather than Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas region.
“The fairest possible option is to ‘stay where we are’,” Zelensky told reporters travelling to Berlin.
Trump has increased pressure on Ukraine to reach an agreement since revealing a plan last month criticised as echoing Moscow’s demands.
Kyiv officials later said they had sent Washington a revised version.
Witkoff said “in-depth discussions” were held on Sunday about that plan and “economic agendas.”
Zelensky stated that “the most important thing is that the plan should be as fair as possible, first and foremost for Ukraine.”
In Russia, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov cast strong doubt on the latest diplomatic efforts.
Ushakov said Moscow had not seen the latest documents but would have “very strong objections” to any relevant amendments.
Europeans and Ukrainians have asked the United States for “security guarantees” before Ukraine negotiates any territorial concessions.
Under the latest US plan, Ukraine could join the EU as early as January 2027, a senior official said.
The diplomatic push continued as Kyiv reported new Russian aerial strikes on its territory.
Russia launched 138 drones and a ballistic missile overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force.
A Russian drone hit a hospital in Kherson, wounding two people including a nurse.
At least 11 people were wounded in strikes on the Zaporizhzhia region. – AFP
