Ukraine peace talks progressing, Russia open to EU membership, U.S. officials say
The war in Ukraine began nearly four years ago, when Russia invaded at the direction of its leader, Vladimir Putin.
Aliver
Published Mon, Dec 15 20251:58 PM ESTUpdated Mon, Dec 15 20255:29 PM EST
Key Points
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Dec. 15, 2025.
John Macdougall | Afp | Getty Images
American officials said Monday that a deal with Ukrainian leaders to end its war with Russia was nearly complete, even as territorial disputes remain unresolved and a strong security guarantee from the United States and European countries remains a sticking point.
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on Monday joined negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, which began Sunday.
U.S. officials in a call with reporters said that Zelenskyy, who on Sunday agreed to drop his goal of joining NATO, insists on so-called Article Five-like security protections as part of a peace deal.
Article Five of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member nation is interpreted as an attack against all.
American officials said any such assurance from the U.S. would require congressional approval.
"We believe the Russians, in a final deal, will accept all these things, which will allow for a … strong and free Ukraine," one official said.
The official added that the Russians were open to Ukraine joining the European Union.
Officials said that about 90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia have been resolved.
"But there's some more things that have to be worked out," an official said.
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Trump, in recent weeks, has renewed pressure to end the conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
In a recent interview with Politico, Trump said that Zelenskyy should accept the U.S.-backed agreement "because he's losing."
For the deal to be final, Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have to come to terms over territory, an issue the Americans and Ukrainians continue to negotiate, officials said.
Putin has demanded that Ukraine must surrender territory for the war to end. Zelenskyy to date has refused to cede any land.
Negotiations are expected to continue through this coming weekend, potentially in Miami.
Trump is expected to call into a dinner that U.S. officials are having with Zelenskyy and other European leaders on Monday night.
"Hopefully we are on the path to peace," a U.S. official said on the call.
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