Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a press conference with the German Chancellor at the Chancellery in Berlin on December 15, 2025.
John McDougall | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. officials said Monday that an agreement with Ukrainian leaders to end the war with Russia is nearly complete, although territorial disputes remain unresolved and strong security from the United States and European countries remains a hurdle.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on Monday took part in negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin that began on Sunday.
U.S. officials said in a call with reporters that President Zelenskiy, who agreed on Sunday to withdraw his goal of joining NATO, is insisting on so-called Article 5-like security as part of the peace deal.
Article 5 of the NATO Treaty stipulates that an attack on one member state shall be interpreted as an attack on all member states.
U.S. officials said any such guarantee from the United States would require Congressional approval.
“We believe that Russia will accept all this in the final agreement, which … will allow for a strong and free Ukraine,” one of the officials said.
The official added that Russia is open to Ukraine joining the European Union.
Officials said about 90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia have been resolved.
“But there are some more things that need to be resolved,” the official said.
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In recent weeks, President Trump has renewed pressure to end the conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
President Trump said in a recent interview with Politico that Zelensky should accept a U.S.-backed deal “because he’s losing.”
For a deal to become final, Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin would need to reach an agreement over the territory, which the U.S. and Ukraine continue to negotiate, the officials said.
President Putin has demanded that Ukraine must surrender territory to end the war. President Zelenskiy has so far refused to transfer any land.
Negotiations are expected to continue until the end of this week, possibly in Miami.
President Trump is expected to convene a dinner that U.S. officials are hosting with Zelenskiy and other European leaders on Monday night.
“I hope we are on the path to peace,” a U.S. official said in a telephone conversation.
