Concessions for Peace: Trump's Envoy Witkoff Arrives in Berlin to Push Zelenskyy for Major Territorial Compromises with Russia

US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to arrive in Berlin this weekend to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. This visit comes as the US pressures Ukraine to make significant concessions to end the war with Russia.

1. Pressing US Diplomatic Efforts

• Witkoff's Visit: A senior White House official confirmed Witkoff's visit to Germany, following his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier in December.

• Objective: The US is pushing Trump's peace plan. Trump reportedly expressed "clear annoyance" over the lack of progress in the talks related to his plan.

• Zelenskyy's Stance: Zelenskyy stated he would hold meetings with Trump's representatives and European partners to lay the groundwork for peace, viewing the current moment as providing a "great opportunity."

2. Disagreements on the Trump Peace Plan

The US envoy faces major challenges due to Ukraine and its allies rejecting conditions perceived as favoring Moscow:

Detail	US/Trump Plan Stipulation	Ukraine/Allies Position
Sticking Point	Negotiations are stalled because Washington demands major territorial concessions.	Kyiv and allies seek to modify the plan, which they deem biased toward Moscow.
Eastern Ukraine	Plan demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the part of Donetsk they control to become a demilitarized "free economic zone."	The plan does not require the same from Russian forces occupying other Ukrainian territories.
Russian Withdrawal	The plan stipulates Russian military withdrawal from small areas in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.	Russia would retain control over larger territories in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Security Guarantees	-	Europeans and Ukrainians demand "security guarantees" before any negotiation on Russian-occupied territories.
EU Membership	The plan projects Ukraine's EU accession starting in January 2027.	Accession is considered unlikely within this timeframe due to potential opposition from member states (like Hungary).

3. Field Situation and Damage

The diplomatic push occurs amid continuous violence:

• Russian Attacks: Moscow announced strikes on Ukrainian industrial and energy facilities using hypersonic missiles, claiming retaliation for attacks on "civilian targets" in Russia.

  • Zelenskyy said the strikes damaged over 10 civilian facilities, causing power outages for thousands across seven regions.

  • Civilian Death: An 80-year-old woman was killed in the Sumy region.

  • Turkish Ship Hit: A Turkish vessel belonging to Sunk Shipping was damaged by a Russian strike near Odesa, carrying fresh produce.

• Ukrainian Attacks: Two people were killed Saturday in central Russia following a Ukrainian drone attack on a residential building in Saratov.

• Ukrainian Gains: The Ukrainian army announced the recapture of several areas in the key city of Kupyansk and two neighboring areas in the Kharkiv region.