President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky assessed the talks with representatives of the American delegation in Berlin regarding the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war as constructive, although not easy, the Interfax-Ukraine agency reported. Ukraine-US negotiations took place on Sunday and Monday.
“We always have such conversations – they are not easy, to be honest. But the conversation was fruitful. Many, many details. It is important for peace to become dignified. It is important for us. There is an important word that we focus on very often: “dignity.” This is what stopped Russia. People in Ukraine are like that,” Zelensky said at the end of the German-Ukrainian business forum in Berlin.
According to the president, Ukraine continues diplomatic activities aimed at ending the war. “We need to meet and work to create appropriate conditions to end the war. We cannot forget where this war came to Europe, who brought it,” he added.
The second round of meetings between the President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian delegation with the US President's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, ended on Monday in Berlin. Zelensky arrived in Berlin on Sunday. On the same day, the first round of talks with the US president's envoys took place. The negotiations concerned, among others: possible ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
The meetings were attended by: Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, Chief of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia and advisor to the head of the President's Office Oleksandr Bevz. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also participating in the talks.
After several hours of negotiations on Sunday, Witkoff said the sides had held in-depth discussions on the 20-point peace plan, economic issues and other topics and had achieved “significant progress.”
Reuters, citing a source familiar with the negotiations, reported on Monday that American negotiators still insist that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas, which, in their opinion, is the “most important issue” for Russia. The agency's interlocutor added that territorial issues had not been resolved.
Starmer: Plan could 'move us forward'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, appearing before the House of Commons in London on Monday, said the peace plan for Ukraine, which will be discussed by leaders in Berlin this evening, could “move us forward.”
In the opinion of the head of government, the current time is “a critical period for Ukraine and all of Europe.” – The history of Europe is full of peace agreements that ended in failure, he said. During his speech, he informed parliamentarians that approximately 5,000 people die on the front every week. Russians.
Starmer said there was text on the negotiating table “that could take us further.” He noted that decisions regarding the most sensitive issues, including territories, belong to Ukraine.
In his opinion, the negotiations also include the need to introduce security guarantees. – NATO, Europe and the European Union must participate in decisions that affect them, he added.
Asked whether security guarantees meant the presence of British troops in Ukraine, he replied that it might require the deployment of ground forces if necessary. – But the first concern is to achieve a just and lasting peace, Starmer emphasized.
The first part of negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine took place on Sunday in Berlin. On Monday morning, the talks continued.
In the evening, Zelensky and Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to be joined by, among others, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The European Union will be represented by, among others, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO – Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte.
Tusk: Our goal is to develop a common platform
Before leaving for Berlin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that the aim of the talks between European leaders with the participation of Ukraine and the US in Berlin is to develop a common platform for the terms of a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine. As he said, on one side there are America, Europe and Ukraine, and on the other side there are Russia.
On Monday, at a press conference before his departure to Berlin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk was asked about what he expects from the talks, what role Poland will play in them and whether a breakthrough can be expected from them.
The head of government replied that the purpose of the leaders' meeting with representatives of Ukraine and the American delegation is to adopt a certain “platform which will make it clear that on one side are America, Europe and Ukraine with developed, compromise and good-willed terms of a truce and future peace.” – On the other hand, Russia, which we would all like to encourage with this united American-European-Ukrainian front, to take these proposals seriously, finally seriously, said Tusk.
He also noted that for “obvious reasons” these negotiations are quite discretionary. The Prime Minister said that Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Kupiecki, who is also his security advisor, participated in the talks preparing the leaders' meeting “from the very beginning.
– There is a format of security advisers to prime ministers or presidents, in this rather narrow group they include, among others: on the final document – at this stage – regarding the conditions of peace in Ukraine – explained the Prime Minister. He added that this document was already prepared and it contained what we really wanted. – But we all agreed that we would not publish it before the evening – noted the Prime Minister.
He emphasized that this will be a very difficult task and will require the search for compromises on both sides, which will be difficult for Ukraine “after these losses, sacrifices, and heroic struggle for many years.” – But I see real good will on the Ukrainian side, as well as European leaders and American envoys, to find this common denominator – said the Prime Minister.
Tusk also assured that he tries to be a pragmatist and realist in foreign policy, which is why Poland's role in this meeting is to ensure that the document does not include any provisions of possible future proposals that would not weaken Poland's security, and this task was “completed one hundred percent.” He added that our goal is also to maintain close cooperation between Europe and the United States by all available methods.
The head of government also admitted that he is sometimes critical and skeptical of some of the actions of “this or that administration” of the US, but – as Tusk emphasized – this does not change his belief that “for our security and European security, for the independence of Ukraine, European-American cooperation is absolutely crucial.”
Merz: Frozen key assets
Reaching an agreement in the EU on frozen Russian assets is crucial to show Russia that continuing the war makes no sense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday.
Merz, who spoke at the German-Ukrainian economic forum in Berlin, added that EU countries must find a way to share the risks associated with the use of Russian assets. Otherwise, the Union risks permanent image damage.
– Only a show of strength will end this war, Merz emphasized.
Member states decided on Friday to permanently freeze Russian assets deposited in the EU. The countries' consent to the permanent freezing of Russian assets does not determine whether a reparations loan will be granted to Ukraine, financed with their use. However, the decision is perceived as a significant breakthrough, bringing the Community closer to this solution.
On Monday, at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Chancellor's Office, Merz assessed that the possibility of a ceasefire is now the most realistic since February 24, 2022, i.e. the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion of the neighboring country.
The Chancellor thanked the American delegation in Berlin, as well as US President Donald Trump, “without whom there would not be such positive dynamics in recent hours.”
– What the United States has put on the table here in Berlin in the form of legal and material guarantees is truly significant, Merz emphasized.
The head of the German government explained that during the talks in Berlin the main focus was on security guarantees for Ukraine, an effective mechanism for enforcing the ceasefire and territorial issues.
This last issue is expected to remain the greatest obstacle making it difficult for Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians to develop a common negotiating position. Media reports show that the US delegation is constantly putting pressure on Ukraine to withdraw from the entire territory of Donbas, abandoning its strengthened positions. Until now, this condition has been unacceptable to Kiev.
The Ukrainian side hopes to reach an agreement by the end of Monday. In the evening of that day, Zelensky will meet at the chancellor's office with Merz and high-level European politicians, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
From Berlin Mateusz Obremski (PAP)
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