Should a ceasefire be secured, security guarantees meant to deter Russia from repeating its aggression against Ukraine are again at the center of talks that began in Berlin on Sunday, December 14, under the auspices of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Both Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies made this a prerequisite for any territorial negotiations. The discussions, between the Ukrainian president and American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aim to revise the Trump plan, which was modeled after Russian demands, before entering into negotiations with Moscow. Talks are set to continue on Monday, before a meeting at the chancellery with several European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The Russians should have been condemned more than 10 years ago for their invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. (…) That did not happen; there were only empty words,” lamented the Ukrainian president in a WhatsApp exchange with journalists before departing for Germany. “Legally binding security guarantees are essential,” he concluded. Merz, along with his British and French counterparts, supported this demand. “Without agreement on this essential issue, there will be no further talks,” warned the Elysée.

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