The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said today that it is vital that negotiations on the peace plan that will take place in Berlin produce results, after confirming that he will meet in the German capital with Donald Trump’s envoys.
“The next few days will be full of diplomacy. It is vitally important that it yields results. I count on the support of our partners”, he said in a message on social media, cited by the EFE agency, in which he thanked “all those who are helping”.
“Ukraine needs peace on dignified terms, and we are willing to work in the most constructive way possible,” added Zelensky, after reporting that Russia this week launched more than 1,500 suicide drones, almost 900 guided aerial bombs and 46 missiles of different types against the country.
The President said in his traditional address to the nation that he is preparing meetings with the United States and European partners in Berlin.
“The most important thing is that I will meet with President Trump’s envoys and there will also be meetings with our European partners, with many leaders, in relation to (…) a political agreement to end the war”, he indicated.
According to North American media outlets such as Axios and The Wall Street Journal, Trump has already sent Steve Witkoff, who is negotiating the peace plan with Ukraine and Russia, to Berlin this weekend, as well as his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is also involved in the talks.
Before a summit called for Monday afternoon by the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, with several European leaders, community institutions and NATO, foreign policy advisors, including from Washington and Kiev, will meet in the German capital.
“The opportunity is considerable right now and it is relevant for each of our cities, for each Ukrainian community. We are working to make peace for Ukraine dignified and to ensure, above all, that Russia does not return to Ukraine for a third invasion,” said Zelensky, referring to the armed conflict in Donbass, which began in 2014, and the far-reaching war that Moscow launched against the country in February 2022.
According to Axios, the Trump administration would be willing to give Ukraine, in exchange for the cession of territories to Russia, a guarantee based on NATO’s Article 5 of mutual defense, which would be approved by Congress and would have a legally binding character.
According to Zelensky, three documents are currently being negotiated: the 20-point peace plan that is being discussed by foreign policy and national security advisors from Kiev, Europe and Washington, the security guarantees for Ukraine that are being worked on in Germany and economic issues, reconstruction and investments, which are being addressed in the USA.
The Ukrainian president said on Thursday that the US wants to reach a “complete understanding” on the plan before Christmas, but the Kremlin has already said it does not accept the changes introduced by Europe and Kiev to Trump’s initial 28-point draft.
According to Zelensky, the key issues still unresolved in the peace plan have to do with the cession of the territory of Donetsk demanded by Russia and the control of the Zaporijia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe and occupied by Russian troops.
The President stated that a referendum could be held on a peace agreement that would include the cession of territory, something that Washington sees as progress, although Russia continues to insist that it must control all territory in the Donbass region (Lugansk and Donetsk).