Skip next section Zelenskyy meets Witkoff, Kushner as talks commence December 14, 2025 Zelenskyy meets Witkoff, Kushner as talks commence Ukraine's Preisdent Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Berlin for talks between the Ukrainian and American sides. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also present at the discussion. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has emphasized that negotiations on the war in Ukraine must not be held without the involvement of the Ukrainians and Europeans Image: Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung/dts Nachrichtenagentur/IMAGO "We began our meeting," Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. Prior to the meeting, Zelenskyy said in a post on X that "the key thing is that all the steps we agree on with partners must work in partners to deliver guaranteed security." "Only reliable guarantees can deliver peace. We count on our partners to continue working constructively as well," he added. Zelenskyy has emphasized security guarantees from the West if a ceasefire with Russia is secured. Ukrainian leaders want the guarantees in case Russia attacks Ukraine again. Zelenskyy has ruled out giving up land to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire deal with Moscow. Russia has insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all of the eastern Donbas region as a condition for any agreement, including from areas that are not under Russian control. https://p.dw.com/p/55Kck Skip next section WATCH: Major blackouts in Ukraine after Russian strikes December 14, 2025 WATCH: Major blackouts in Ukraine after Russian strikes DW has this video report on the situation in Odesa after a night of Russian aerial attacks: Ukraine suffers blackouts after Russian attack To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/55KJS Skip next section Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin — presidency December 14, 2025 Zelenskyy arrives in Berlin — presidency Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the German capital ahead of talks on resolving the conflict in his country, the Ukrainian presidency has said. US President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were said to have arrived earlier in the day for the negotiations, which will also involve European officials. https://p.dw.com/p/55KGI Skip next section Kremlin slams NATO chief Rutte's remarks on war with Russia December 14, 2025 Kremlin slams NATO chief Rutte's remarks on war with Russia The Kremlin on Sunday described remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calling on the Western military alliance to be prepared for a potential war with Russia "irresponsible." In a speech on Berlin on Thursday, Rutte said NATO should be "prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured," saying that "we are Russia's next target." "This seems like a statement by a representative of a generation that has managed to forget what World War Two was actually like," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a state television reporter. "They have no understanding, and unfortunately, Mr. Rutte, making such irresponsible statements, simply does not understand what he is talking about," Peskov added. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected claims by NATO and some European leaders that it plans to attack a NATO member. Kos: Ukraine's EU integration 'only way' to secure peace To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/55K7H Skip next section Ukraine hits oil refinery and depot in Russia, Kyiv says December 14, 2025 Ukraine hits oil refinery and depot in Russia, Kyiv says Ukraine 's forces have hit the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region and an oil depot in the Volgograd region, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Sunday. In a statement, it said that Kyiv's troops struck several military targets in the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and Crimea. A Russian regional governor earlier said that an oil depot in Uryupinsk in the Volgograd region caught fire after drone debris fell on the facility, as reported in this blog. https://p.dw.com/p/55K73 Skip next section Zelenskyy calls for 'dignified' peace as US envoys arrive in Berlin December 14, 2025 Zelenskyy calls for 'dignified' peace as US envoys arrive in Berlin Ahead of talks with US and European officials in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it is critical that the negotiations deliver results. "Ukraine needs peace on dignified terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible," he wrote on X on Sunday. "The coming days will be filled with diplomacy. It is critically important that it delivers results," he added. Earlier in his statement, he wrote that "hundreds of thousands of families are still without electricity in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipro regions" following Russian strikes. "Russia is dragging out the war and seeks to inflict as much harm as possible on our people," he wrote. "In total, the Russians launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types against Ukraine this week." Zelenskyy's remarks came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were reported to have arrived in Berlin for the talks. https://p.dw.com/p/55K6e Skip next section Almost half in Germany want frozen Russian assets used for Ukraine — poll December 14, 2025 Almost half in Germany want frozen Russian assets used for Ukraine — poll A poll has shown that one in two people in Germany is in favor of using Russian assets frozen in the European Union for loans to Ukraine — a move that remains highly contentious within the bloc. In the poll, conducted by the Insa Institute for Sunday's edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper, 47% said they supported doing so, 34% said they were opposed and 7% said they were not interested in the matter. The survey comes after the EU on Friday created a basis for using the assets to fund Ukraine, with 25 of the 27 member states voting to prohibit a return transfer to Russia indefinitely. Russia, which vehemently opposes the plans, would get the money back only if it pays reparations and makes full amends for its invasion. Russia's central bank has around €210 billion ($246.6 billion) of assets frozen in the EU. The survey also showed that 44% of people in Germany want their country to support Ukraine next year as much as or more than it currently does, while 42% want it to give less support. Merz: Frozen Russian assets should be used to support Kyiv To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/55K0s Skip next section Russian airports restrict flights amid Ukrainian drone attack December 14, 2025 Russian airports restrict flights amid Ukrainian drone attack Russia's aviation regulator said on Saturday that at least 10 airports, including in Moscow and Saint Petersburg , imposed temporary flight restrictions during the night because of the danger posed by incoming Ukrainian drones. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 235 of the unmanned aircraft. An oil depot in Uryupinsk in the Volgograd region caught fire after drone debris fell on the facility, a regional governor said. https://p.dw.com/p/55Jx6 Skip next section Russia strikes Turkish cargo vessel in Black Sea, Ukraine says December 14, 2025 Russia strikes Turkish cargo vessel in Black Sea, Ukraine says Vessels carrying agricultural cargo are supposed to be allowed safe passage through a "grain corridor" Image: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of carrying out a drone strike on a Turkish vessel in the Black Sea , a day after amother Russian attack caused a fire on a Turkish-owned ship at a Ukrainian port. "Russia delivered a targeted strike using a drone against the Turkish vessel 'VIVA,' which was en route to Egypt carrying sunflower oil," Ukraine's navy said on social media. It said there were no injuries among the 11 crew on board the ship and that the ship had been able to continue its journey. The ship was in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone and sailing in a grain corridor along Ukraine's coastline that is supposed to allow vessels carrying vital agricultural cargoes to pass safely through the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it "a strike against food security" and "a direct challenge by Russia to the whole world." The reported strike comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a stop to attacks on ports and energy facilities during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday. https://p.dw.com/p/55Jv0 Skip next section What are the negotiations likely to focus on? December 14, 2025 What are the negotiations likely to focus on? Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on the conditions for putting an end to Moscow's invasion of its neighbor. Here are some of the main points of contention: The US plan for peace that has formed the basis of recent negotiations foresees large-scale territorial concessions to Russia, notably of the Donbas region, that Ukraine has rejected Russia and the US say Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO, while Kyiv has pressed to be able to enter the Western military alliance Ukraine wants to retain the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently occupied by Russia, which claims it as its own Ukraine also wants comprehensive international security guarantees to ensure that it does not come under renewed Russian attack in the future Read more coverage about the US plan here End of Ukraine war won't secure peace in Europe: Ischinger To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/55Jt1 Skip next section Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirms attendance in Berlin December 14, 2025 Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirms attendance in Berlin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that he intends to participate in talks in Berlin on ending the conflict in the country. However, it remained unclear whether he would arrive in Berlin on Sunday and meet the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. "The most important are my meetings with representatives of [US] President [Donald] Trump , as well as meetings with our European partners and many leading politicians about the foundation of peace — a political agreement to end the war," Zelenskyy said in a video message posted Saturday on Facebook. Zelenskyy and European leaders met with Trump at the White House in August and are now discussing a new peace proposal Image: picture alliance/ZUMAPRESS.com/Daniel Torok The talks in Berlin, which are to be held at an as yet undisclosed location, are initially planned at an adviser level on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Talks are also planned on the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country between Ukrainian officials and representatives of the US and European states. Zelenskyy is also expected to attend an economic meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz by Monday at the latest. https://p.dw.com/p/55JtG Skip next section Welcome to our coverage December 14, 2025 Welcome to our coverage You join our coverage of developments regarding Russia's war in Ukraine as Ukrainian, US and European officials are set for a round of negotiations in Berlin on a possible peace agreement. They come as the US Trump administration puts growing pressure on Kyiv to accept its peace plan, which, however, envisages a number of concessions to Moscow that Ukraine has so far rejected. No representatives from the aggressor nation, Russia, are to be present at the talks, which come a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that that Russian President Vladimir Putin would continue his advance if Ukraine is defeated. DW will track developments at the Berlin talks and from the conflict in Ukraine throughout the day. Ukraine suffers blackouts after Russian attack To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/55Jsd Show more posts
WorldWorld
Ukraine: Zelenskyy meets US, European officials in Berlin
Loading article...
AI Index
Neutral / Balanced
Facts presented without strong bias.