Media: Trump team to discuss security guarantee with Zelenskyy in Berlin

President Trump’s advisers, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Berlin on December 15 to advance the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, White House officials told Axios.

The U.S. plan has become highly contentious over the territorial concessions Ukraine would need to make, particularly in the Donbas. However, talks on security guarantees and economic reconstruction are reportedly progressing.

A senior U.S. official said the Trump administration is offering Ukraine a legally binding security guarantee, based on NATO’s Article 5, to be approved by Congress. “We want to give the Ukrainians a security guarantee that will not be a blank check on the one hand, but will be strong enough on the other hand. We are willing to send it to Congress to vote on it,” the official said.

The U.S. plan envisions Ukraine retaining sovereignty over 80% of its territory while receiving “the biggest and strongest security guarantee it has ever got” alongside a significant reconstruction package.

European leaders have reportedly advised Zelenskyy not to rush into ceding territory that remains under Ukrainian control. Zelenskyy has suggested that any peace deal involving territorial concessions could be put to a referendum, although holding a vote amid ongoing conflict would be challenging.

White House officials described Witkoff and Kushner’s trip as an opportunity to solidify progress achieved during recent talks with Ukraine, Germany, France, and the U.K., and to explore pathways toward a ceasefire.

By Aghakazim Guliyev