The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
Witkoff is expected to discuss the latest version of the proposed peace agreement and hold talks on Sunday, 14 December, and Monday, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz taking part, according to reports.
Political analyst Nikola Mikovic, speaking to AnewZ from Belgrade, Serbia, outlined the competing approaches at play and the challenges in aligning U.S. and European expectations.
“They were initially supposed to hold the meeting in Paris, but it was reportedly cancelled. And now they’re scheduled to meet in Berlin,” Mikovic said.
"Although I’m not sure if they will reach a deal, the United States is attempting to pressure Kyiv and its European allies to accept Donald Trump’s peace proposal,” he noted.
Two approaches
Mikovic said Washington and its allies were pursuing different strategies and positions.
The first, led by the United States, suggests that Ukraine should make territorial concessions to Russia and freeze the conflict, which would serve Donald Trump’s interest by portraying him as a peacekeeper.
The United States could also benefit strategically, particularly if it establishes influence over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
By contrast, Kyiv and European powers, including the United Kingdom, are firmly opposed to such a solution.
“They back Ukraine’s war efforts and have repeatedly stated that Ukraine should continue fighting until it recaptures territories currently under Russian control,” Mikovic said.
The analyst noted that the Trump administration is actively attempting to pressure Ukraine and Europe to freeze the conflict, but expressed scepticism over the likelihood of success.
Mikovic concluded by stressing that the war will only end when one of the parties is no longer capable of continuing the fight. “As I repeatedly stated over the years, this war will end when one of the two involved parties is no longer in a position to continue fighting. And we’re still far from such an outcome,” he said.
The Berlin meeting, therefore, comes amid sharp differences in strategy and objectives, with both sides under pressure to articulate their positions and clarify expectations before any potential progress can be made.
These talks follow Ukraine’s submission of a revised 20-point peace plan to the United States, first proposed in late November, which has prompted intensified diplomatic activity.
Territorial disputes in eastern Ukraine remain the most contentious issue, with Kyiv refusing to cede land it says has been illegally occupied and Moscow insisting it will take full control of the Donbas region by force unless Ukraine withdraws.
Ukrainian emergency services extinguished a fire on a Turkish-owned civilian vessel after a Russian attack that damaged three Turkish-owned ships in s...
Russia and Ukraine issued conflicting battlefield reports on Friday, with Moscow claiming control of eight towns and cities, while Kyiv said it had st...
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can sh...
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic mis...
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running fro...
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.
A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
Ukrainian emergency services extinguished a fire on a Turkish-owned civilian vessel after a Russian attack that damaged three Turkish-owned ships in southern Ukrainian ports
Russia and Ukraine issued conflicting battlefield reports on Friday, with Moscow claiming control of eight towns and cities, while Kyiv said it had stabilised the front near Kupyansk.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment