Key Takeaways from the Ukraine–US Delegations’ Two-Day Peace Plan Negotiations

Two-day talks between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Berlin concluded, leaving a number of key agreements and open questions regarding a peace plan.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to various media resources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held lengthy talks in Berlin with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The discussions began on Sunday and lasted more than five hours, concluding late in the evening, but deliberations continued into the following day. The Ukrainian delegation included senior officials led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, while the US side was represented by Witkoff and Kushner, who are closely involved in Washington’s peace initiative.

During his speech at the closing of the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described today's negotiations with the American delegation as difficult but productive. 

“We always have such conversations, they are not easy, I will tell you honestly, but the conversation was productive, there were many, many details, and it is important that peace becomes dignified. This is important for us,” he said. 

A central issue in the talks was security guarantees for Ukraine, which the US proposed akin to NATO’s Article 5. According to US officials, this is the strongest security proposal the Trump administration has offered Ukraine, but it is time-limited: Kyiv must accept it now, or subsequent iterations may be less generous.

“Those guarantees will not be on the table forever. Those guarantees are on the table right now if there’s a conclusion that’s reached in a good way,” a senior US official said. 

The US praised its European counterparts for their constructive role, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling the legal and material security guarantees proposed in Berlin “remarkable.”

Some sources told Reuters that US negotiators during the Berlin talks told Ukraine it must withdraw forces from eastern Donetsk oblast in any agreement to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. Zelenskyy confirmed that positions still differ but expressed confidence that US mediators would help find a compromise. He stressed that Ukraine needs clear understanding of security guarantees, including ceasefire monitoring mechanisms, before making decisions regarding the front line. 

The Ukrainian President emphasized that the US did not demand concessions from Ukraine, merely communicated Russia’s position.

"I would like us to treat President Trump's delegation with respect. And I don't think the United States of America has demanded anything. I see us as strategic partners. Therefore, I would say that we have heard from the United States of America about the issue of territories in terms of Russia's vision or Russia's demands. We perceive this as the demands of the Russian Federation," he said.

The discussions also covered specific territorial issues, including future control over occupied territories and the Zaporizhzhia NPP. A mechanism for joint oversight of the plant is proposed, with each side having access to half of the generated energy. The US side estimates that about 90% of key issues between Ukraine and Russia have been agreed, though some matters still require further work.

Meanwhile, a joint statement by european leaders, as well as President Costa and President von der Leyen highlighted strong transatlantic support for Ukraine. They emphasized that ensuring Ukraine’s security, sovereignty, and prosperity is essential for broader Euro-Atlantic security and reaffirmed that Ukraine and its people deserve a prosperous, independent, and sovereign future, free from fear of future Russian aggression. 

The statement outlined a framework for cooperation to support Ukraine, including:

• Sustained support for Ukraine’s armed forces, maintaining a peacetime strength of 800,000 to deter conflict and protect territory;

• Establishment of a European-led “multinational force Ukraine,” supported by willing nations and the U.S., to assist in force regeneration, air security, and safer seas;

• A US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation, including early warning, breach attribution, and de-escalation measures;

• Legally binding commitments, within national procedures, to restore peace and security in the event of future armed aggression, using military, intelligence, economic, and diplomatic measures;

• Investments in Ukraine’s recovery, including reconstruction resources, mutually beneficial trade, and measures for Russia to compensate for damages, with frozen Russian sovereign assets in the EU;

• Strong support for Ukraine’s European Union accession.

The leaders reaffirmed their support for President Zelenskyy’s decisions on key Ukrainian issues, while emphasizing that some matters would be resolved in the final stages of negotiations. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian delegation, led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, will continue negotiations with American partners.  

“I hope that (these days – ed.) can help bring peace closer, although it is very difficult,” he stated.

As The Gaze reported earlier, FBI leaders held secret meetings with Ukraine’s top peace negotiator, Rustem Umerov, in the United States, raising questions about the intent and implications of these discussions. 

Read also on The Gaze: Why Donald Trump is Interested in a Quick, Not Quality, Completion of the War in Ukraine