US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Berlin this weekend to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders for renewed talks on ending the war with Russia. The discussions will focus on the latest version of a US-brokered 20-point peace plan, coming just days after Kyiv submitted its own revised proposal to Washington. One idea under consideration is creating a demilitarized "free economic zone" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region that would host American business activity, although the future status of occupied territory there remains a core disagreement, as Ukraine rejects ceding land seized by Russia. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to join the Berlin ...
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Berlin this weekend to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders for renewed talks on ending the war with Russia. The discussions will focus on the latest version of a US-brokered 20-point peace plan, coming just days after Kyiv submitted its own revised proposal to Washington. One idea under consideration is creating a demilitarized "free economic zone" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region that would host American business activity, although the future status of occupied territory there remains a core disagreement, as Ukraine rejects ceding land seized by Russia. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to join the Berlin meeting, underscoring close US-European coordination as Washington increases pressure on Kyiv to engage with the US-led peace initiative. President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will also attend, reflecting the White House’s personal involvement in the effort to explore possible terms for a settlement.
Highlights:
- High-level lineup: Alongside Zelenskyy, Witkoff will meet counterparts from France, Britain and Germany during the Berlin visit scheduled for Sunday and Monday, signaling a tightly coordinated Western approach to the talks.
- US pressure: Multiple outlets report that Washington has recently stepped up diplomatic pressure on Kyiv to work with the US-crafted peace framework, even as Ukraine continues to defend its own territorial demands.
- Economic corridor idea: The proposed demilitarized free economic zone in Donbas is described as an area where American commercial interests could operate, tying potential reconstruction and investment to any eventual security arrangements in eastern Ukraine.
- Territory dispute: The question of how to handle land in eastern Ukraine currently under Russian occupation has emerged as a key obstacle, with reports emphasizing that Kyiv remains unwilling to formally relinquish these regions in any settlement outline.
- Media coverage: The Wall Street Journal was cited as the first outlet to reveal the planned Berlin gathering, which has since been confirmed and elaborated on by several international news organizations.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in Berlin this weekend - Unnamed US official briefed on the matter
Perspectives:
- United States government: By dispatching special envoy Steve Witkoff and involving Jared Kushner directly, Washington signals that it wants to advance a US-brokered proposal that blends security arrangements with economic incentives in eastern Ukraine. (politico.eu)
- Ukrainian leadership: Kyiv has presented its own updated peace plan to Washington and, according to reports, continues to resist any formula that would require surrendering control over Russian-occupied areas in the east. (politico.eu)
- European leaders: The planned participation of the U.K. prime minister, the French president and the German chancellor shows that London, Paris and Berlin aim to remain central players in diplomatic efforts over the conflict alongside the United States. (politico.eu)
- European media observers: Outlets such as France 24 and DW describe the Berlin gathering as part of a broader phase in which Western capitals are probing how far they can push for a negotiated outcome while Russia still occupies Ukrainian territory. (france24.com)
Sources:
- US envoy Witkoff to meet Zelenskyy in Germany for latest peace talks - politico.eu
- US envoy Witkoff will travel to Berlin to meet with Zelenskiy and European leaders - straitstimes.com
- Witkoff to meet Zelensky for latest Ukraine war talks - bbc.com
- US envoy to hold Ukraine peace talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin - firstpost.com
- Live: US envoy Witkoff to meet Zelensky, European leaders for Ukraine peace talks - france24.com
- U.S. Envoy Witkoff will travel to Berlin to meet with Zelenskyy and European leaders - thehindu.com
- Ukraine updates: US envoy heads to Berlin for peace talks - dw.com