 "Representational image. File Image/Reuters")
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy is due to travel to Berlin this weekend for talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior European leaders, as Washington intensifies efforts to shape a plan to end Russia’s war against Kyiv. The meetings come amid growing diplomatic pressure from the United States for movement towards a negotiated settlement.
A White House official on Friday confirmed to AFP the accuracy of a Wall Street Journal report stating that envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Zelensky and European leaders over the weekend to review the state of peace negotiations. Germany’s government said Berlin will host a broader gathering next Monday, including the heads of the European Union and Nato, shortly after Zelensky attends a German-Ukrainian business forum with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Washington pushes updated peace proposals
US pressure on Kyiv has increased in recent weeks. Ukrainian officials said they had sent Washington an updated plan based on Trump’s original 28-point peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Trump’s plan, which was made public last month, drew criticism for reflecting key Russian demands, including Ukraine relinquishing significant territory to Russia. The revised US-led proposal includes the prospect of rapid European Union membership for Ukraine, a step opposed by Moscow.
Under the latest plan, Ukraine could join the EU as early as January 2027, a senior source familiar with the matter told AFP on Friday. At the same time, European and Ukrainian leaders are seeking assurances from Washington, with the French presidency saying they are asking the United States to provide “security guarantees” before Ukraine agrees to any territorial concessions.