US envoy to meet with Zelenskyy in Berlin
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Berlin this weekend to advance peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war. The discussions focus on a US-proposed 28-point plan, which Ukraine has countered with a 20-point proposal amid disputes over territorial issues like Donbas.
Witkoff, leading negotiations under President Donald Trump, will confer with counterparts from France, Britain, and Germany on Sunday and Monday, following Zelenskyy’s attendance at a German-Ukrainian business forum. The White House pushes for a deal before year’s end, despite no breakthroughs yet and Russia’s skepticism of Ukraine’s revisions.
Talks address security guarantees, reconstruction, and compromises like a “free economic zone” in eastern Donbas, as the EU freezes Russian assets worth €210 billion to aid Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasizes recognizing Russian aggression while pursuing EU accession in the plan.
