Ask Onix
White House mediator travels to Germany for key negotiations
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, will arrive in Berlin this weekend to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in a bid to finalize a peace agreement before Christmas. The talks mark the latest effort by the U.S. administration to broker a deal between Kyiv and Moscow, though progress remains elusive.
European leaders expected to join discussions
The Wall Street Journal reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to participate in the Berlin negotiations. However, official confirmation of their attendance has not been released.
Witkoff's visit follows Ukraine's submission of a revised 20-point peace plan to Washington earlier this week. The proposal, first introduced in late November, has sparked intense diplomatic activity, though its reception has been mixed.
Fresh attacks underscore urgency of talks
As negotiations continue, Ukraine reported heavy Russian bombardments in the southern Odesa region on Friday. Local officials stated that civilian infrastructure, including energy and industrial sites, was struck, igniting a fire on a Turkish car ferry docked at the port. Meanwhile, in Russia's Saratov region, two people were killed after a drone hit a residential building, according to the regional governor.
Territorial disputes remain a major hurdle
The future of eastern Ukraine remains the most contentious issue in the talks. Kyiv has refused to cede any illegally occupied territory, while Moscow has reiterated its demand for full control of the Donbas region unless Ukraine withdraws its forces.
The White House's latest proposal suggests creating a "special economic zone" in the disputed areas, with Ukrainian troops pulling back and the land between Russian-held territory and Ukraine's defensive lines becoming a demilitarized buffer. Zelensky has expressed skepticism, questioning what would prevent Russia from advancing or infiltrating under such an arrangement.
"What will restrain [Russia] from advancing? Or from infiltrating disguised as civilians?"
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian President
Diplomatic tensions and financial pressures mount
While Ukraine and its European allies have described the U.S.-led negotiations as productive, signs of frustration have emerged. In an interview with Politico, Trump criticized European leaders as "weak" and renewed calls for Ukraine to hold elections, which have been suspended since martial law was declared in February 2022.
Zelensky responded that elections could be organized within 90 days if the U.S. and Europe provided the necessary security guarantees. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces severe financial strain, requiring an additional €135.7 billion ($159 billion) over the next two years to sustain its war effort and reconstruction.
EU freezes Russian assets, eyes Ukraine funding
On Friday, European Union governments agreed to indefinitely freeze approximately €210 billion ($247 billion) in Russian assets held within the bloc. The move is seen as a precursor to repurposing the funds as loans for Ukraine, pending approval at an upcoming EU summit.
The proposal has drawn sharp condemnation from Moscow, with Russia's central bank vowing to sue Euroclear, the Belgian bank holding most of the frozen assets. Negotiations over the legal structure of the deal continue, with Belgium expressing particular concern due to its legal exposure as the primary custodian.
EU membership emerges as potential bargaining chip
The latest draft of the peace plan reportedly includes a provision for Ukraine's rapid accession to the European Union. According to the Financial Times, Brussels supports Kyiv's bid for swift membership, with an unnamed senior official suggesting Ukraine could join as early as January 2027. It remains unclear whether Washington has endorsed this element of the proposal.
Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, but despite promises of an accelerated process, membership remains years away under current timelines.
