A special United States envoy will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this weekend as Washington steps up diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine war ahead of Christmas.
Steve Witkoff, who is leading White House-backed mediation efforts between Kyiv and Moscow, is travelling to Berlin to discuss the latest version of a proposed peace agreement. He is expected to hold talks with Zelenskyy as well as several European leaders.
According to earlier reports by The Wall Street Journal, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are likely to take part in the Berlin discussions, although their participation has not been officially confirmed.
The United States is pushing for a ceasefire and a workable agreement before the end of the year. In recent weeks, multiple rounds of talks have been held separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives, though no major breakthrough has yet been announced.
One of the most contentious issues remains the future of eastern Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces. Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out conceding any land, while Moscow has warned it will seek full control of the Donbas region if Ukraine does not withdraw.
Zelenskyy has expressed scepticism over a recent US proposal that would see Ukrainian forces pull back from certain areas, which would then be designated as a “special economic zone.” Under the plan, the Kremlin would pledge not to advance further, effectively creating a demilitarised buffer zone.
Publicly questioning the proposal, Zelenskyy asked how future Russian aggression or covert incursions could be prevented, noting that the plan avoids resolving the issue of legal sovereignty over the territories.
Ukraine recently submitted a revised version of its 20-point peace plan to Washington, prompting intensified diplomatic activity. Kyiv’s allies have said US-led negotiations have become more balanced over time, praising recent revisions to earlier proposals.
However, signs have emerged of growing impatience in Washington. In a recent interview with Politico, former US President Donald Trump criticised European leaders as “weak” and renewed calls for elections in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy responded by saying elections could be held within 90 days if adequate security guarantees were provided by the US and Europe. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, suspending the electoral process.
