President Volodymyr Zelensky faces a full day of meetings in Berlin on Monday, combining formal talks with Germany’s leadership, engagements with lawmakers, and a broader gathering of European leaders, as Kyiv and its allies weigh US-backed proposals to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The visit comes as negotiations with envoys of US President Donald Trump intensify, amid mounting pressure on Ukraine to accept a settlement that European leaders fear could favor Moscow.
6-Hour Ukraine-US Talks resume Monday
Zelensky’s delegation met for more than five hours on Sunday with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The discussions focused on a revised US peace proposal, as well as economic and security-related issues.
Witkoff said afterward on X that “a lot of progress was made,” adding that talks would resume Monday morning.
Trump has urged a swift end to the nearly eleven-year-old war, which went full-scale with Russian ground forces invading its neighbor almost four years ago. But Kyiv and its European partners remain wary of any agreement that would reward Russia’s invasion in February 2014 or undermine Ukraine’s long-term security.
Key unresolved issues include territorial concessions, security guarantees for Ukraine, and whether Moscow would accept any framework agreed upon by Washington and Europe.
Zelensky outlines ceasefire stance ahead of talks
As he traveled to Germany, Zelensky said he hoped the US would back a proposal to freeze the front line where it currently stands, rather than ask Ukraine to relinquish the entire Donbas region, as demanded by Moscow.
“The fairest possible option is to stay where we are,” Zelensky told reporters. “This is true because it is a ceasefire. I know that Russia does not view this positively, and I would like the Americans to support us on this issue.”
He insisted that any plan must be equitable for Ukraine. “The most important thing is that the plan should be as fair as possible, first and foremost for Ukraine, because Russia started the war,” Zelensky said.
Monday schedule of official engagements in Berlin
According to Deutsche Welle (DW), Zelensky’s official program in Berlin begins early Monday afternoon:
- 1:00 p.m. – Meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace, including the signing of the official guest book
- 2:15 p.m. – Visit to the Bundestag, where Bundestag President Julia Klöckner will welcome Zelensky for talks with German lawmakers
- 3:50 p.m. – Meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum
- 5:15 p.m. – Joint press conference between Merz and Zelenskyy, followed by private talks
From 6:30 p.m., Zelensky is expected to attend a high-level gathering at the Chancellery with other European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as the heads of the European Commission, the European Council and NATO.
Europe seeks unity as pressure mounts
Merz wrote on X ahead of the meetings that Europe remains committed to pushing forward despite divisions.
“We want a lasting peace in Ukraine,” the German chancellor said. “Difficult questions lie ahead of us, but we are determined to move forward.”
At the same time, the European Union is scrambling to reach agreement on how to finance Ukraine in the coming years, including a proposal to use frozen Russian assets – an issue set for discussion at a leaders’ meeting later this week.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday that negotiations remain challenging. “We are not there yet, and it is increasingly difficult, but we’re doing the work and we still have some days,” she told journalists.
Kremlin signals resistance as fighting continues
In Moscow, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov expressed skepticism about the diplomatic push, casting doubt on proposals emerging from Kyiv and European capitals.
“I think the contribution of both Ukrainians and Europeans to these documents is unlikely to be constructive,” Ushakov said in a video message. He added that Russia would raise “very strong objections” to any amendments that diverge from Moscow’s stated position, largely its stated objectives when it began its full-scale invasion in February, 2022.
The renewed diplomacy comes as Ukraine continues to report Russian attacks on civilian targets, and while Moscow’s economy is reeling from Kyiv’s attacks on the Kremlin’s oil industry and shadow tanker fleet, underscoring the urgency and fragility of the negotiations now unfolding in Berlin.