Trump's envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner arrive in Berlin for talks with Zelenskyy

US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Berlin, where talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to take place, Associated Press reported.

The American officials were spotted in central Berlin ahead of the planned meeting, which, according to earlier reports, is scheduled for December 15

AP indicates that during the talks, the US side intends to press Ukraine to agree to the terms of a proposed peace plan aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Earlier, President Zelenskyy said that a series of meetings involving Ukrainian, American, and European officials would take place in Berlin in the coming days.

The meetings aim to advance a U.S.-proposed peace framework to end Russia's nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy, in a December 13 address, described the opportunity for a "political agreement" as having a "significant chance," while emphasising the need for robust security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.

The U.S. delegation's arrival was spotted in central Berlin, signalling Washington's urgency to bridge gaps in the revised 20-point peace plan.

This round follows November's Geneva consultations, where progress was deemed sufficient for in-person escalation, and aligns with Trump's frustration over delays (no imposed Christmas deadline). Russia continues to intensify strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, complicating negotiations, while Putin insists on full territorial demands. The Berlin format—U.S.-Ukraine bilaterals followed by broader European involvement—tests transatlantic unity amid Trump's "America First" pivot and Europe's push for a "just" deal.

By Khagan Isayev