Ukrainian, Finnish presidents align strategies ahead of Berlin negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Berlin on December 15, to coordinate positions ahead of upcoming talks with international partners.

According to Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel, the meeting took place during his official visit to the German capital.

Reports noted that President Stubb canceled a previously planned trip to the United States to ensure his participation in the Berlin discussions.

During the meeting, the leaders reviewed the outcomes of recent diplomatic efforts, agreed on coordinated next steps, and aligned strategies for the forthcoming negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Finland for its ongoing support and emphasized Helsinki’s role in the PURL program, which is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Stubb has frequently participated in peace talks regarding Ukraine, partly due to his close contacts with Trump.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US envoys in Berlin on December 15 to continue discussions on a plan for ending the Russia-Ukraine war. 

The meeting is a continuation of talks Zelenskyy held with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor, a day earlier.

Witkoff said that a "lot of progress was made" during the initial talks, but did not provide details.

The negotiations are part of renewed diplomatic efforts that followed Washington's backing of a 28-point peace plan, which would impose punishing conditions on Ukraine. The proposal was subsequently reduced to 20 points following consultations with Ukrainian and European representatives.

Speaking ahead of the meeting in Berlin, Zelenskyy pushed back against a US-backed idea for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from a proposed "demilitarized zone" in the partially Russian-occupied Donbas region.

Facing US pressure to make territorial concessions in eastern regions, Zelenskyy said that such issues should be decided by the Ukrainian people, possibly through a referendum.

The Ukrainian president is expected to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier later during the day.

 Zelenskyy will also hold talks with the leaders of the UK, the EU, and NATO.

By Vafa Guliyeva