The White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy will convene with Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in Berlin this weekend, as Washington pushes for a strategy to conclude Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Prior to the discussions, Zelensky cautioned on Saturday that Russia “still intends to annihilate” Ukraine. He noted that nighttime bombardments targeted energy infrastructure, leaving thousands across the nation without power.
Russia claimed it targeted Ukrainian sites using hypersonic ballistic missiles, framing the strikes as a response to Ukrainian assaults.
“It is crucial for everyone to recognize Russia’s actions — each move they make is an act of terror against our population… This is clearly not about bringing an end to the conflict. Their intention remains to dismantle our state and inflict maximum suffering on our citizens,” the Ukrainian leader stated on X.
In the northeastern Sumy region of Ukraine, an 80-year-old woman lost her life when a Russian shell struck a residential building, as reported by the local governor.
Since unveiling a controversial plan last month to achieve peace that some critics argue aligns with Moscow’s demands, including territorial concessions by Ukraine, Trump has been increasing pressure on Kyiv to reach a settlement.
The 28-point proposal has sparked extensive diplomatic activity between the U.S. and Ukraine’s European partners, with officials in Kyiv recently stating they submitted a revised plan to Washington.
Specifics about the updated proposal have yet to be disclosed.
A White House representative confirmed to AFP on Friday that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, will hold talks with Zelensky and European leaders this weekend to review the current status of the peace negotiations.
Germany’s government has announced that Berlin will host these leaders, including the heads of the European Union and NATO, next Monday, shortly after Zelensky speaks at a German-Ukrainian business forum with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The most recent U.S.-led plan includes provisions for Ukraine to potentially join the EU by January 2027, despite Moscow’s opposition to such a move.
French officials stated that both Europeans and Ukrainians are requesting the U.S. to offer “security guarantees” prior to any discussions about Ukrainian territorial concessions.
The intricate process of EU accession typically spans several years and necessitates unanimous agreement from all 27 member states. Notably, countries like Hungary have consistently opposed Ukraine’s membership.
Zelensky mentioned on Thursday that Trump has the capacity to leverage “various forms of influence” to persuade dissenting leaders regarding Ukraine’s EU membership.
Although Ukraine has long aspired to join the EU, it has faced challenges in addressing widespread corruption, a critical requirement for entry into the bloc.
On Friday, Moscow expressed skepticism towards the proposed amendments to the U.S. plan, which it had previously indicated support for.
“We worry that this updated version… will be less favorable,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov told the Kommersant business daily.
He further added that the process would be lengthy and noted that Russia had not received an updated proposal since Putin met with U.S. envoys Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow last week.
Zelensky noted on Thursday that Washington only expects Ukrainian forces to withdraw from specific areas in the eastern Donetsk region, where a demilitarized “economic free zone” would be established as a buffer zone between the two militaries.
On Friday evening, an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine is “not contemplating” any agreements about territorial changes or a demilitarized zone.
With numerical superiority in troops and weaponry, Russia has been steadily advancing on the battlefield for months.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an influential regional mediator, remarked on Saturday that “peace is within reach” but urged for a cessation of strikes in the Black Sea, which have disrupted this vital shipping lane in recent weeks.
“The Black Sea should not be viewed as a conflict zone. Such a perspective would be detrimental to both Russia and Ukraine. Safe navigation in the Black Sea is essential for all,” Erdoğan said, according to the Anadolu state news agency.
A Russian airstrike recently damaged a Turkish-owned ship in Ukraine’s Odesa port, as confirmed by both Kyiv and the vessel’s operator.
This attack occurred shortly after Erdoğan’s meeting with Putin during a summit in Turkmenistan, where the Turkish leader advocated for a “limited ceasefire” concerning assaults on ports and energy infrastructure, according to his office.
