Talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Berlin are set to resume Monday. After hours of negotiations on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is open to abandoning Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership in return for Western security guarantees, but firmly dismissed US suggestions that Kyiv give up territory to Russia. Follow our liveblog for all the latest.
Zelensky, US envoys to push on with Ukraine talks in Berlin on Monday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to push on with talks in Berlin on Monday with US President Donald Trump’s envoys on how to end the grinding war with Russia.
As the conflict raged on, Zelensky’s delegation huddled for over five hours on Sunday with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Their meeting was held under tight security in the chancellery in Berlin, where Germany’s leader Friedrich Merz was Monday due to host a dinner with Zelensky, a group of European leaders and the NATO and EU chiefs.
‘A lot of progress’ made in US-Ukraine talks in Berlin, says Trump envoy
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said “a lot of progress” was made during talks Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a proposal to end the war with Russia.
The meeting in Berlin between Zelensky and a US delegation — including Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — “lasted over five hours,” according to a readout posted by Witkoff on X.
“Representatives held in-depth discussions regarding the 20-point plan for peace, economic agendas, and more. A lot of progress was made, and they will meet again tomorrow morning.”
UK MI6 spy chief warns of ‘aggressive’ Russia threat in first speech
The head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6, will warn that Russia poses an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” threat, in her first speech since taking office.
Blaise Metreweli took over from Richard Moore in October, becoming the first female chief of MI6 – a role publicly known by the codename “C” – in its 116-year history.
“(Vladimir) Putin should be in no doubt, our support is enduring. The pressure we apply on Ukraine’s behalf will be sustained,” Metreweli will say on Monday, according to advance extracts of her remarks.
“The export of chaos is a feature not a bug in the Russian approach to international engagement, and we should be ready for this to continue until Putin is forced to change his calculus.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced readiness to drop his country’s bid to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as he holds talks with US envoys on ending the war.
Zelensky rejected the US push for Ukraine to agree to cede territory to Russia.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff says “a lot of progress” was made during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a proposal to end the war with Russia.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)
Original Title: Live: Talks between Ukrainian and US officials set to resume Monday Source:www.france24.com Published: 2025-12-15 11:20:00 Tags:
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