US and Ukraine Set to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Berlin
Weekend Meetings Ahead of European Summit
BERLIN — Germany will host delegations from the United States and Ukraine this weekend for discussions focused on a possible ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, according to a German government official. These talks will take place ahead of a broader summit in Berlin on Monday that will include European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
A U.S. official confirmed that President Donald Trump is sending his envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to Germany. The meetings are expected to involve Ukrainian representatives as well as European officials.
Signal of Possible Progress
The decision to send Witkoff, who has led negotiations with both Ukraine and Russia on a U.S.-backed peace proposal, suggests that Washington sees a potential opening for progress. The war has continued for nearly four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Earlier, the White House said Trump would only dispatch an official if he believed the talks had a realistic chance of moving forward.
European Allies Show Continued Support
German officials confirmed that foreign policy advisers from the United States, Ukraine, and other countries are taking part in the Berlin discussions. These talks aim to explore options for a possible ceasefire.
Meanwhile, on Monday, German opposition leader Friedrich Merz will host President Zelenskiy and several European leaders in Berlin. The meeting will mark another public show of European support for Ukraine. At the same time, Kyiv faces growing pressure from Washington to accept a peace plan that initially aligned with key demands from Moscow.
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