Ukraine reports 'real progress' in US talks, signals willingness to abandon NATO membership bid

BERLIN, GERMANY: Ukraine’s top peace negotiator said on Monday, December 15, that US and Ukrainian officials made “real progress” during a second round of peace talks in Berlin aimed at ending the nearly three-year war with Russia.

“Over the past two days, Ukrainian-US negotiations have been constructive and productive, with real progress achieved,” Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, wrote in a post on X. 

Ukraine thanks the US delegation and President Trump

Umerov praised the US delegation, led by President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, saying that they were working “extremely constructively” to help Kyiv reach a lasting peace agreement.

“The American team led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are working extremely constructively to help Ukraine find a way to a peace agreement that lasts. The Ukrainian team is enormously grateful to President Trump and his team for all the efforts they are putting in,” he said. 

The Berlin talks followed a lengthy five-hour session on Sunday and continued for about 90 minutes on Monday, with European officials also taking part.

While Washington has yet to issue a formal statement, a post on Witkoff’s social media account after Sunday’s meeting said that “a lot of progress was made.”

Washington seeks quick deal as Moscow asserts stance 

Ukraine is negotiating under growing pressure from Washington to quickly accept a US-brokered peace framework, even as Moscow reportedly adopts a more assertive posture on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

Key obstacles allegedly remain unresolved, including the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, most of which is currently occupied by Russian forces. 

Moscow has insisted that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the remaining parts of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control as a core condition for peace, an idea Ukraine has firmly rejected.

Despite the hurdles, Ukrainian officials have sought to signal openness to compromise without crossing red lines.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy ready to drop NATO bid for peace efforts 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that Ukraine could be prepared to drop its long-standing bid to join the NATO military alliance if the United States and other Western partners provide robust security guarantees comparable to those enjoyed by NATO members.

However, Kyiv has drawn a clear line against ceding territory to Russia, despite US pressure to consider concessions as part of a broader settlement.

Zelenskyy has stressed that any security assurances offered by the West must be legally binding and backed by the US Congress to prevent future Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy’s also held meetings with German leaders and other European officials to ensure Europe’s central role in any eventual settlement.

"During my meeting with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, I expressed my gratitude for Germany’s leadership in supporting our people. I briefed the president on our work with the United States aimed at achieving a dignified peace, reliable security guarantees, and economic recovery," Zelenskyy said. 

Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said, “The issue of security in particular will ultimately determine whether this war actually comes to a standstill or whether it flares up again.” 

The Kremlin said on Monday that it expected the US to brief Russian officials on the outcome of the Berlin talks. Asked whether a peace deal could be finalized by Christmas, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed speculation about timelines.

“Trying to predict a potential time frame for a peace deal is a thankless task. President Putin is open to serious peace and serious decisions but absolutely not to any tricks aimed at stalling for time,” he said.