On Sunday morning, U.S. envoys arrived in Berlin for crucial discussions aimed at establishing a deal to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Notable figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were spotted in downtown Berlin by a photographer from the German news agency dpa. These meetings are part of a broader diplomatic effort to seek a resolution to the conflict that has ravaged Ukraine for months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a series of meetings involving Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials would take place in Berlin over the coming days. "Most importantly, I will be meeting with envoys of President Trump, and there will also be discussions with our European partners and many leaders concerning the foundation of peace—a political agreement to end the war," Zelenskyy stated in an address to the nation late Saturday.
The U.S. government has been navigating the complex demands from both Ukraine and Russia, as President Trump calls for a swift resolution to the conflict. However, the negotiations have faced significant challenges, particularly regarding the control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, which remains largely occupied by Russian forces, as well as the security guarantees needed for Ukraine's sovereignty.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, major obstacles remain. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has insisted that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the areas it currently controls in the Donetsk region and abandon its aspirations to join NATO—demands that have been firmly rejected by Kyiv. Additionally, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, indicated that Russian police and national guard troops would continue to maintain a presence in parts of eastern Ukraine's Donbas, even if these areas were designated as a demilitarized zone under a potential peace plan. Such a stance is likely to be met with resistance from Ukraine as U.S.-led negotiations continue.
Ushakov warned that reaching a compromise might take considerable time, noting that U.S. proposals which included Russian demands had been altered by Ukraine and its European allies in ways that did not favor the negotiation process. "We don't know what changes they are making, but clearly they aren't for the better," Ushakov commented, affirming Russia's firm stance on its demands.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been pivotal in European efforts to support Ukraine, echoed concerns about the geopolitical implications of the conflict. He stated that the era of 'Pax Americana' is largely over for Europe, emphasizing that Putin's objective is a fundamental alteration of borders in Europe, potentially leading to a restoration of the old Soviet Union. "If Ukraine falls, he won't stop," Merz warned during a party conference in Munich.
As diplomatic discussions unfold, the military situation remains tense. Russia and Ukraine have exchanged a series of aerial attacks, escalating the conflict. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched ballistic missiles and 138 attack drones against Ukraine overnight. In its daily report, the air force confirmed that 110 of these threats had been intercepted, but missile and drone strikes still impacted six locations across the country.
President Zelenskyy noted that hundreds of thousands of families remain without power in various regions, including the south, east, and northeast, following a significant attack. In the past week alone, Russia has unleashed over 1,500 strike drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 different types of missiles against Ukraine. "Ukraine needs peace on decent terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible. These days will be filled with diplomacy, and it's crucial that it yields results," Zelenskyy stated.
In a response to the ongoing conflict, Russia's Defense Ministry reported that their air defenses successfully downed 235 Ukrainian drones during the late hours of Saturday and early Sunday. In the Belgorod region, a drone attack resulted in injuries and property damage, while Ukrainian drones targeted an oil depot in Uryupinsk, igniting a fire, according to regional authorities.