Russian invasion Negotiations

German dissatisfaction with US delegation: “Anything but an ideal setup”

Sunday’s meeting between Ukraine, Germany and the US in Berlin has ended after more than five hours, several media outlets report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has spoken with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, among others, about a peace agreement with Russia.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says in an interview with ZDF Heute that it is a good sign that the US has come to Berlin for new peace talks. However, he points the boot at the American negotiators.

Trump’s special envoy Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner have visited Moscow during the negotiations, where they expressed positive views after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It is anything but an ideal setup, but you can only dance with the people who are on the dance floor,” he says.

During the day, Russia has expressed negative views about the talks in Berlin, writes Handelsblatt. Ahead of the meeting, Putin's advisor Yuri Ushakov said that the talks are unlikely to be constructive.

Analysis: Ukraine can win the war against Russia – but then Europe must do more

Despite all the peace talks and meetings about Ukraine, most evidence suggests that the fighting will continue, writes DN's Sanna Torén Björling. Putin does not seem prepared to give in when it comes to the Russian demands, which are unacceptable to Ukraine.

"As long as it is, the war will continue, no matter how many meetings are held."

Ukraine can still win the war against Russia, but then the European countries must do more to help. This is what Robert Fox writes in an analysis in The Independent.

Russia continues to advance on the battlefield and an ambivalent US seems to be taking a step back. But the unwillingness of Ukrainian soldiers to give up and Russia's slow progress give the country hope.

Fox believes that Europe now needs to support Ukraine with advanced weapons – and as quickly as possible.

In the Danish TV2 broadcast, Jesper Steinmetz notes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has reportedly dropped the demand for Ukrainian NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees. Even though the US currently does not want to see Ukraine in the alliance and several European countries are negatively disposed, it is still remarkable, he thinks.

– It is actually a groundbreaking message that Zelenskyj is making, he says.