News|Russia-Ukraine warTrump says deal to end Ukraine war ‘closer than ever’ after Berlin talksEuropean leaders say they and the US are committed to working together to provide ‘robust security guarantees’ for Ukraine.
An agreement to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is reportedly progressing following discussions in Berlin. Although some leaders, including US President Trump, expressed optimism, notable differences persist, particularly regarding…
An agreement to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is reportedly progressing following discussions in Berlin. Although some leaders, including US President Trump, expressed optimism, notable differences persist, particularly regarding territorial matters.
Talks in Berlin involved key leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US and European officials, including the US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The discussions focused on potential concessions by Kyiv to Moscow, aiming to resolve one of Europe's deadliest conflicts since World War II.
European leaders, along with the US, have expressed commitment to providing "robust security guarantees" to Ukraine. This includes the establishment of a European-led "multinational force Ukraine" with US support. The force is intended to operate within Ukraine, rebuild its forces, secure airspace, and enhance maritime safety. Ukrainian military forces are expected to maintain a peacetime level of 800,000 troops.
US officials compared the proposed protections to NATO's Article 5 mutual defense pledge. Ukraine has indicated a willingness to forgo NATO membership aspirations in exchange for solid Western security guarantees. President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for clarity on these guarantees before making territorial decisions in any potential peace agreement. Effective ceasefire monitoring is also deemed essential.
An agreement to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is reportedly progressing following discussions in Berlin.
Previous security assurances from the US and Europe, provided after Ukraine's independence in 1991, did not prevent Russia's military actions in 2014 and 2022. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted the significant security guarantees offered by Washington during the talks.
Merz emphasized the importance of the European Union agreeing on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, aiming to demonstrate to Moscow the futility of continuing the conflict. The EU has implemented new sanctions targeting entities aiding Russia in circumventing Western oil export restrictions.
Despite diplomatic efforts, hostilities persist. Ukraine reported that Russia launched 153 drones overnight, with 17 reaching their targets. Conversely, Russia claimed to have destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine also reported a successful strike on a Russian submarine in Novorossiysk. Russian forces continue to target Odesa, hitting Turkish cargo ships, while Ukraine maintains these strikes target Russian assets.
President Zelenskyy accused Russia of leveraging attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as a negotiation tactic, claiming all power stations have been targeted.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.