Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin to engage in talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and engaged in closed-door consultations involving US, European, and Ukrainian representatives. The discussions focus on aligning positions to bring about an end to the conflict.

Zelenskyy particularly sought to discuss his recent amendments to former US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, emphasizing a compromise involving security guarantees for Ukraine amid mixed NATO membership support. He advocated for a ceasefire where both sides maintain current positions to enable diplomatic resolution. The talks also saw the involvement of a high-ranking US military representative to provide strategic advice, while Moscow reiterated demands for Ukrainian troop withdrawals from contested Donbass territories. Parallel diplomatic efforts included calls between German, French, British, and US leaders to coordinate approaches to the crisis.