After completing two days of consultations with representatives of the United States in Berlin, the Ukrainian side received a number of developments that could accelerate the further negotiation process. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Preparation for the Next Round of Negotiations
Zelensky reported that the American delegation, after receiving feedback from European partners on Washington’s peace initiatives, plans to discuss them with representatives of the Russian Federation. Only after this will a meeting of the negotiation groups be organized in the USA with the participation of the Ukrainian delegation. According to the president, the visit may take place in the coming days or over the weekend, but the exact date has not yet been determined.
“Now with all these reactions, I think the American side will contact the Russian side, and after that, there will be a meeting with Ukraine in the United States at the level of negotiation groups,” he said.
Details of the Negotiations and Ukraine’s Position
On December 14 and 15, President Zelensky was in Berlin, where the Ukrainian delegation held negotiations with U.S. Special Representative Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who also participated in the meetings, characterized the negotiations as constructive and emphasized that they brought “real progress.”
Prior to these discussions, Umerov, along with Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov, conducted several days of work with representatives of former President Donald Trump in the USA. In recent weeks, the American side has intensified efforts to conclude a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. As a result of prolonged discussions, a draft document has been prepared that better aligns with Ukraine’s interests, although contradictions remain regarding territorial issues and security guarantees.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that any compromises regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be decided exclusively by the people, including through elections or a referendum. At the same time, the Kremlin once again insists on its position, stating that “the entire Donbas is Russian.”