U.S. Envoy to Engage Zelensky and European Leaders in Berlin Amid Ongoing War Challenges

The special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in Berlin this weekend, as stated by the White House, amid efforts from Washington to devise a strategy to conclude the conflict initiated by Russia in Ukraine.

Prior to the meetings, Zelensky issued a warning on Saturday, highlighting that Russia «still intends to annihilate» Ukraine. Kyiv reported that extensive Russian bombardments on energy infrastructure overnight had resulted in power outages for thousands throughout the nation.

Russia claimed to have targeted Ukrainian installations with hypersonic ballistic missiles, describing these actions as retaliation against Ukrainian offensive maneuvers.

«It is crucial that everyone recognizes the actions of Russia — every terroristic act they commit against our citizens… This is clearly not an effort to conclude the war. Their objective remains the complete destruction of our nation and to inflict maximum suffering on our populace,» the Ukrainian president remarked on X.

In a tragic incident, an 80-year-old woman lost her life when a Russian shell struck a residential building in the northeastern Sumy region of Ukraine, according to the regional governor.

Trump has been increasing pressure on Kyiv to reach a settlement since proposing a peace plan last month that drew criticism for aligning with Moscow’s demands, which included Ukraine surrendering vital territories.

This 28-point proposal has sparked significant diplomatic activity between the United States and Ukraine’s European partners, with officials in Kyiv recently indicating they had forwarded an updated version to Washington.

Details regarding the revised plan remain undisclosed.

A White House representative confirmed to AFP on Friday that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, will convene with Zelensky and European leaders this weekend to address the ongoing peace talks.

The German government announced that Berlin will host the leaders, including the heads of the European Union and NATO, next Monday, following Zelensky’s attendance at a German-Ukrainian business forum with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The latest iteration of the U.S.-led plan includes the prospect of Ukraine’s swift accession to the European Union, a move that has been opposed by Moscow.

European and Ukrainian officials have also requested «security guarantees» from the United States before Ukraine engages in any negotiations regarding territorial concessions, as noted by France on Friday.

Under the new U.S. proposal, Ukraine could potentially join the EU as early as January 2027, according to a senior official familiar with the discussions who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity.

The intricate process of EU accession typically spans several years and requires a consensus vote from all 27 member states.

Certain countries, particularly Hungary, have consistently expressed their opposition to Ukraine’s membership.

Zelensky stated on Thursday that Trump can utilize «various levers of influence» to persuade leaders who are against Ukraine’s membership to reassess their positions.

Kyiv has long pursued EU membership but has faced challenges in tackling persistent corruption, which is a fundamental requirement for joining the bloc.

Moscow expressed skepticism on Friday regarding any efforts to revise the U.S. plan, for which it has shown initial support.

«We have the impression that this version… may turn out to be less favorable,» Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov told the Kommersant newspaper.

«It will be a lengthy process,» he added, noting that Moscow has not seen an updated version since the discussions involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow last week.

Zelensky mentioned on Thursday that Washington desires only Ukraine to withdraw its forces from certain areas in the eastern Donetsk region, where a demilitarized «free economic zone» would be established as a buffer between the two military forces.

On Friday evening, an advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed that Ukraine was «not considering» any agreements concerning territorial concessions or a demilitarized zone.

Russia, enjoying a numerical superiority in manpower and equipment, has been making gradual advances on the battlefield for several months.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a significant regional mediator, stated on Saturday that «peace is within reach» but called for a halt to strikes in the Black Sea, where tensions have escalated recently along this critical shipping route.

«The Black Sea should not be perceived as a battleground. This would only harm both Russia and Ukraine. Safe navigation in the Black Sea is essential for everyone,» Erdoğan remarked, as reported by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.

A Russian airstrike damaged a Turkish-owned vessel at a port in Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Odesa, as confirmed by Kyiv and the vessel’s operator on Friday.

This attack occurred just hours after Erdoğan met with Putin on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan, where the Turkish leader advocated for a «limited ceasefire» pertaining to assaults on ports and energy infrastructures, according to his office.