Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on Sunday (Dec 14) for high-stakes negotiations with US envoys, aiming to advance a Washington-backed peace plan to end the ongoing conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed both delegations at the chancellery, where discussions focused on creating "legally binding security guarantees" for Ukraine.
🔑 Key players at the table: Senior Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov joined Zelenskyy, while US representatives included Jared Kushner (former President Trump’s son-in-law) and envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelenskyy stressed the need for "NATO-level protections" during the talks but revealed Washington hasn’t yet responded to Kyiv’s latest proposals.
💡 Why it matters: With 2025 marking the conflict’s fourth year, this meeting signals renewed diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy’s push for formalized Western commitments could reshape regional security dynamics – a hot topic for young professionals tracking global markets and international relations.
