Berlin hosts U.S.-Ukraine talks on Washington-backed peace plan

Delegations from the United States and Ukraine arrived in Berlin on Sunday for talks on a U.S.-backed peace plan, after being received by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a government source said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received delegations from the United States and Ukraine at the chancellery in Berlin on Sunday ahead of negotiations on a peace plan backed by Washington, according to a government source cited by Reuters.

Those attending the talks include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov. The U.S. delegation includes President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, the source said.

Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had relinquished its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as a compromise to end the conflict with Russia. Ukraine’s goal of NATO membership is written into its constitution and has long been viewed by Kyiv as protection against Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy said security guarantees from the U.S., European partners and other countries such as Canada and Japan would replace NATO membership and should be legally binding. He said this would include U.S. guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5.

Russia has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine formally renounce its NATO ambitions and withdraw troops from areas of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control. Moscow has also said Ukraine must remain neutral and that NATO troops cannot be stationed on its territory.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine, the U.S. and European partners are examining a 20-point plan that would end with a ceasefire along current front lines. He said Kyiv has no direct talks with Russia.

German Chancellor Merz is also hosting Zelenskyy and European leaders for a summit in Berlin on Monday, as diplomatic efforts intensify nearly four years after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

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