Berlin Hosts Crucial Ukraine Peace Talks Focused on Trump Plan and Security Guarantees

On December 14, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a US delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Berlin to advance peace negotiations addressing the ongoing conflict with Russia. The discussions centered on Zelenskyy's amendments to a peace plan originally proposed by former US President Donald Trump, with a key focus on securing robust security guarantees before any territorial concessions.

The talks began in the early afternoon with preliminary meetings at the Hotel Adlon, where a 28-point plan involving Ukraine’s security and territorial issues was revised in collaboration with Germany, France, and the UK. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s negotiating position remains strong, supported by military stability and ongoing international backing. He insisted that any peace plan must be fair and effective, highlighting the necessity of guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression, potentially through a mutual defense pact similar to NATO’s Article 5.

Chancellor Merz welcomed the delegation but stepped back early on, leaving his foreign and security policy advisor Günter Sautter to moderate. The talks continued late into the evening, with further economic discussions planned for the following day. German officials viewed the meetings as a diplomatic success that reestablishes European involvement in resolving the conflict, with Merz underlining the importance of US engagement after previously limited European input.

Meanwhile, Russian officials expressed skepticism about the talks, maintaining firm territorial demands, especially regarding the Donbas region, and signaling limited hope for a constructive outcome stemming from the Ukrainian and European efforts.

Berlin's heightened security measures, including extensive police presence and roadblocks, underscored the summit's significance. The outcome of these negotiations is critical, as Zelenskyy seeks concrete support from the US and European partners ahead of a possible ceasefire and a peace resolution before Christmas, responding to pressure from the timeline established by Trump’s peace initiative.