Zelenskyy Goes To Berlin To Tell US Envoys What He Expects From Peace Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin Sunday to meet with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, making clear that strong security guarantees are non-negotiable in any deal to end the war.

“The key thing is that all the steps we agree on with partners must work in practice to deliver guaranteed security,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. “Only reliable guarantees can deliver peace.”

The Berlin talks bring together Ukrainian, American and European officials ahead of a Monday summit to include U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Politico reported.

Zelenskyy told journalists that Kyiv could accept binding security guarantees as a substitute for NATO membership. He said bilateral pacts with the U.S. that function like NATO’s Article 5, combined with European commitments, could prevent “another coming of Russian aggression.” (RELATED: Ukraine Faces Thanksgiving Deadline As Leaks And Doubts Cloud Trump Peace Plan)

We are preparing for a meeting with the American side. There are many important details, and we are working thoroughly on every point of every draft. The key thing is that all the steps we agree on with partners must work in practice to deliver guaranteed security. Only reliable… pic.twitter.com/yQrn6YupGE

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 14, 2025

The Ukrainian leader said any guarantees must be legally binding and backed by the U.S. Congress.

A major sticking point remains the fate of eastern Ukrainian territory. Zelenskyy rejected a U.S. proposal for Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk and create a demilitarized economic zone there.

“I do not consider this fair, because who will manage this economic zone?” Zelenskyy asked. He demanded Russian forces pull back the same distance as any Ukrainian withdrawal.

“Today a fair possible option is we stand where we stand,” Zelenskyy said, calling for a freeze along current battle lines.

The talks center on a 20-point peace plan brokered by Washington.