Progress in Ukraine Ceasefire Negotiations: A Path Toward Peace?

Mon Dec 15 2025 18:45:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Intensive discussions in Berlin yield promising developments for Ukraine’s peace agreement with Russia, as President Zelensky indicates willingness to compromise on NATO membership.

In ongoing ceasefire talks in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his negotiators have made notable strides towards a peace accord with Russia. Following a lengthy meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Zelensky expressed a willingness to forego NATO ambitions in exchange for solid security guarantees. As Europe rallies support, the situation remains critical with millions of households in Ukraine facing power outages due to ongoing assaults on infrastructure.

Talks between Ukraine and the US aimed at reaching a peace deal with Russia are continuing in Berlin for a second day.

Zelensky and his chief negotiator Rustem Umerov met US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner for five hours on Sunday, joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

A lot of progress was made, a US readout said. The same team resumed talks on Monday morning.

Ahead of the start of the meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky signalled he would give up ambitions to join NATO in exchange for security guarantees.

Recognising that some partners from the US and Europe did not support Ukraine's bid for NATO membership, Zelensky said he was instead seeking strong security guarantees modeled on NATO's Article 5 clause of mutual protection.

Witkoff has travelled to Moscow to hold talks with Vladimir Putin on several occasions, but Sunday's meeting at the chancellery in Berlin was the first time he met Zelensky. NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich was also present at the talks.

Several European leaders as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to join further talks with the Ukrainian and US delegations on Monday evening.

At the core of the discussions in Berlin is the 20-point peace plan proposal presented to the US by Ukraine last week to counter an initial American plan which was seen as heavily favouring Russia.

For Russia, Kyiv's membership of NATO is a red line, and Moscow has repeatedly demanded that any ambitions for Ukraine to join the alliance are shelved forever. The Kremlin has called for fair arrangements regarding territorial control in conflict zones, particularly the Donbas region.

The talks in Berlin come at a crucial time for Ukraine, which is enduring its fourth winter of war amid sustained power cuts caused by Russia's attacks on its energy facilities. Over the weekend, more than a million households in Ukraine were left without electricity following a barrage of strikes.

This diplomatic engagement could indicate a potential shift towards more sustainable peace efforts, but the path ahead remains fraught with challenges and uncertainty.