U.S. officials have said that talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine are on the cusp of a breakthrough, despite enduring divisions over land and security assurances. The discussions, with Ukrainian leadership in the mix and foreign mediators shuttling between sides, are moving toward a possible agreement with all sorts of hurdles along the way.
In new developments, top envoys including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin – talks that took place on the heels of another round of meetings the day before.
President Zelenskyy, American sources explain, has agreed to forsake his desire for NATO membership, in exchange receiving security guarantees like those provided by NATO’s Article Five (which says an attack on one member is an attack on all). But such assurances from the United States would need to be approved by Congress.
U.S. officials said Russia indicated that Ukraine might be able to join the European Union at some point, a sea change in negotiations. They say that about 90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia have been settled, even if discussion on a few have yet to be" wrapped up, they add.
President Zelenskyy remains focused on security guarantees even as the discussions for territorial sovereignty are complex. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine give up territory to resolve the conflict, something Zelenskyy has thus far refused to do.
In recent weeks, former President Donald Trump has renewed calls for an immediate settlement — and implored Zelenskyy to take the U.S.-backed deal after ratcheting up pressure on Ukraine’s leader by suggesting he is politically vulnerable amid battlefield losses.
Officials say land and territorial issues could keep the negotiations going through this coming weekend, possibly in Miami. And President Trump is expected to attend a state diplomacy dinner that Zelenskyy will participate in with European leaders later this week.
A U.S. government official was cautiously optimistic, saying, “We hope we’re on the road to peace,” as negotiations continue.
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