Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at Berlin's Bellevue Palace on Monday for a pivotal series of meetings with European leaders, as the United States intensifies diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the war with Russia.
High-Stakes Diplomacy in the German Capital
The gathering, hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, brings together British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside the heads of NATO and the European Union. The working dinner at Merz's central Berlin offices represents a concerted European show of solidarity with Kyiv, following criticism of earlier US-led peace proposals perceived as overly favourable to Moscow.
Significantly, the US president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were also invited to the dinner. The American duo held a second round of direct talks with Zelenskyy in the German capital on Monday, following an extensive five-and-a-half-hour meeting at the chancellery on Sunday.
Witkoff indicated on social media that "a lot of progress was made" during the Sunday discussions, though specific details remain undisclosed. A photograph released by Chancellor Merz's team depicted a symbolic gesture, with Merz seated beside Zelenskyy, directly facing Witkoff and Kushner across the table, although the German leader did not participate in the substantive negotiations.
Zelenskyy's Strategic Concessions and Sticking Points
Amid mounting US pressure for a resolution—with President Trump initially aiming for a deal by Thanksgiving and now reportedly targeting a "full understanding" by Christmas—Zelenskyy has signalled a major potential shift in Ukraine's position. In a communication with reporters via WhatsApp, the Ukrainian leader expressed a readiness to abandon the country's bid for NATO membership if alternative, legally binding security guarantees from the US and other Western nations could be secured.
"Today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues... are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion," Zelenskyy stated.
On the critical issue of territory, Zelenskyy voiced hope that Washington would support freezing the current frontline, rather than requiring Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region, which remains largely under Russian occupation. He described this as the "fairest possible option." The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, noted that the NATO issue was a "cornerstone" subject and that Moscow anticipated a US briefing on the Berlin discussions.
A European Pivot and Enduring Support
European leaders at the summit underscored the long-term implications of the war's outcome for continental security. Chancellor Merz, who has been instrumental alongside Macron and Starmer in coordinating European support for Ukraine, delivered a stark assessment over the weekend. He declared that the era of 'Pax Americana'—reliance on US military might for global stability—was largely over for Europe and Germany.
Merz warned that Vladimir Putin's ultimate goal was a fundamental redrawing of European borders and a restoration of the old Soviet Union. "If Ukraine falls, he won't stop," Merz told a conservative conference in Munich, though Russia has consistently denied any intention to attack NATO members.
Parallel to the diplomatic manoeuvres, France's Emmanuel Macron pledged unwavering support on social media, vowing that "France is, and will remain, at Ukraine's side to build a robust and lasting peace." Meanwhile, in London, the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, was set to deliver her first major speech, characterising Russia as an "aggressive, expansionist" threat and promising enduring British pressure on Ukraine's behalf.
As talks continue, the European Union is scrambling to finalise a plan to finance Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, with a leaders' meeting scheduled for Thursday, though an agreement remains elusive.
