Overview
- Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Berlin and called the discussions difficult yet productive.
- An American official told Reuters that roughly 90% of outstanding U.S.-Ukraine issues are resolved and that a plan would give Kyiv guarantees akin to NATO’s Article 5.
- Reuters reported U.S. negotiators pressed Ukraine to accept a withdrawal from Donetsk as part of a deal, while Zelensky rejected ceding the Donbas in public comments.
- European leaders endorsed the process, floated a Europe-led multinational force and a U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism, and said they support Ukraine on final decisions, as President Trump and U.S. officials struck an optimistic tone.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said NATO entry remains a core concern requiring special talks, and the same U.S. source suggested Moscow could accept Ukraine joining the EU.