
Trump Envoy Heads to Berlin for High-Stakes Ukraine Peace Talks
European leaders and Kyiv are seeking firm security guarantees and clarity on EU accession as diplomacy intensifies around Washington’s controversial proposal.

European leaders and Kyiv are seeking firm security guarantees and clarity on EU accession as diplomacy intensifies around Washington’s controversial proposal.

Details still have to be refined, the Ukrainian president said, and must provide guarantees against a future Russian invasion.

“It is impossible to end the war between Russia and Ukraine without talking to Russia,” the U.S. Secretary of State nailed down, criticising Kaja Kallas and her ilk.

President Donald Trump described the state of the process to end the war in Ukraine as “a mess” in a Tuesday interview.

Steve Witkoff is set to meet Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as Washington talks up “optimism” and Europe frets over pressure on Kyiv to concede ground.

The EU warns that Washington’s solo diplomacy risks sidelining Europe—coinciding with a new U.S. proposal that, reportedly, leans heavily in Moscow’s favour.

It’s increasingly clear that the Americans are no longer concerned about the European position, as the U.S. government reportedly moves to recognize Russian control over Crimea and Donbas.

As the U.S. envoy prepares to meet Putin next week, the Kremlin signals cautious optimism—while warning European involvement could complicate negotiations.

European leaders warn Russia shows no sign of accepting a ceasefire, while Washington claims progress.

The danger of 1938 was not too much realism—it was too little. And that is what we risk repeating today, not by negotiating, but by refusing to do so.