NEWS BRIEF
In a major shift in diplomatic negotiations, U.S. peace envoys have reportedly told Ukrainian officials during talks in Berlin that Kyiv must agree to withdraw its forces from the eastern Donetsk region as part of any potential peace deal to end the war. This stance emerges as Ukraine shows willingness to drop its bid for NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees, though the territorial issue remains deeply contentious, with polls showing three-quarters of Ukrainians oppose major concessions.
WHAT HAPPENED
- U.S. negotiators, including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Berlin.
- The U.S. reportedly stated that Ukraine must agree to withdraw from the Donetsk region, which Russia claims to have annexed, as part of a peace agreement.
- Ukraine indicated a willingness to abandon its NATO membership ambition in exchange for binding Western security guarantees.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that preventing Ukraine’s NATO membership remains a non-negotiable condition for Moscow.
WHY IT MATTERS
- The reported U.S. position marks a significant potential concession on territory, challenging Ukraine’s stated goal of reclaiming all occupied land.
- Ukraine’s flexibility on NATO membership reflects intense pressure from the Trump administration to reach a deal and growing fatigue among some Western allies.
- Public opinion in Ukraine remains strongly opposed to major territorial concessions, with 75% rejecting ceding more land without ironclad security guarantees.
- The negotiations test Europe’s unity and strategic autonomy, occurring alongside critical EU discussions on funding Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
IMPLICATIONS
- Any deal requiring Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk could face fierce domestic backlash, risking political instability for Zelenskyy’s government.
- Conceding territory could set a dangerous precedent for Russian aggression and undermine the international principle of territorial integrity.
- A settlement without NATO membership would leave Ukraine’s long-term security dependent on bilateral guarantees, the durability of which remains uncertain.
- The U.S.-led push could strain transatlantic relations, particularly with Eastern European allies who view territorial concessions as a reward for Russian aggression.
This briefing is based on information from Reuters.
