Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that progress had been made on many issues during two days of talks between Ukraine and the United States in Berlin and stressed that Ukraine’s position had been heard.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky said there were some ‘destructive’ ideas that would not help Ukraine and expressed relief that he did not see them reflected in the latest draft documents.
The talks were led by Zelensky and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner also involved. Merz said that for perhaps the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion, a ceasefire now appears possible. Zelensky declined to give details of the negotiations but acknowledged that the question of occupied territories remains a painful issue, noting that Ukraine and Russia hold fundamentally different positions.
He stresses that it was crucial for Kyiv to know that the US delegation understands Ukraine’s stance and the detailed realities of the war. Marking a shift in tone, Zelensky sounded more optimistic about a potential settlement and about Washington’s role in the diplomatic process. Addressing speculation about US pressure, he insisted that Washington is making no demands, acting instead as a mediator that conveys Russia’s demands while also communicating Ukraine’s vision to Moscow.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: If you would like to support our independent journalism at Good Morning World, please subscribe to our daily newsletter. It’s FREE and appears 7 mornings a week. As we prepare to install a fully-automated sign-up, in the meantime please send an email with the word SUBSCRIBE to ianrbrodie@gmail com.