US envoy leaves for Berlin for peace talks – DW – 12/13/2025

US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration at slow progress in ending the Ukraine war and wants definitive action, the White House said Thursday.

Progress in the talks has been hampered by the fact that Ukraine, Russia, the US and Europe are all pursuing different goals.

Here’s a quick overview of the main points:

• Ukraine wants security guarantees, rejects territorial concessions and wants to keep Zaporizhia nuclear plant
• Russia wants control over the entire Donbass region and opposes NATO expansion
• Europe and NATO are pushing for a fair peace and warning of the immediate threat to Europe from Russia
• America wants the war to end soon and is growing frustrated with the long peace talks.

Read here for a more in-depth look.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior European leaders in Berlin this weekend to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the White House said Friday.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also wants to attend.

No timeline has been published for the planned talks.

Talk, first reported wall street journalThis came as Washington stepped up pressure on Kiev to pursue talks based on the US-led peace proposal.

Germany said Berlin will also host EU and NATO leaders following a German-Ukrainian business forum early next week, including Zelensky and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Ukrainian officials have submitted an updated peace plan to Washington, while European leaders are demanding US security guarantees before Kiev will consider any territorial concessions to Russia.

Welcome to our coverage of the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy will meet with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin this weekend.

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt told reporters Thursday that Trump is “extremely disappointed” with Russia and Ukraine as he moves forward with his ceasefire plan.

Keep reading as we take a look at the day’s developments.