Zelenskyy and Merz see progress in Berlin talks for ceasefire

WISE NEWS PRESS / BERLIN, GERMANY — DEC. 16, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that "progress has been made on many issues" following two days of talks with U.S. and German officials in Berlin, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that a ceasefire appears possible "perhaps for the first time" since the full-scale Russian invasion began.

The high-level meetings, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, marked a significant shift in diplomatic tone. While Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's voice was "heard," he acknowledged that discussions regarding occupied territories remain "painful".

Security guarantees and territorial disputes

A core focus of the negotiations was the formulation of written security guarantees for Ukraine. With NATO membership currently off the table from the U.S. side, the delegations worked on guarantees "similar to NATO's Article 5," which stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

Key topics on the agenda included:

• Security Assurances: Drafting "very strong assurances" to prevent the resumption of war.

  
  

• Reconstruction and Finance: Securing financial resources in the nature of reparations for Ukraine's rebuilding.

• Territory: Addressing the divergent positions between Kiev and Moscow regarding occupied lands.

According to U.S. media reports, officials believe agreement has been reached on approximately 90% of the topics, with territorial concessions remaining the primary obstacle.

The U.S. role as mediator

Zelenskyy was careful to clarify the role of the American delegation, dismissing claims that Washington was making demands of Ukraine. "I do not believe the United States is making any demands. I view the U.S. as a strategic partner," Zelenskyy said, explaining that the envoys were merely relaying Russia's demands to Kiev and would conversely convey Ukraine's vision to Moscow.

Chancellor Merz highlighted the significance of the U.S. involvement, noting that what Washington has offered in terms of "financial and legal assurances is truly important". U.S. officials are expected to present the outcomes of the Berlin talks to Russia later on Monday.

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