Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Show Promise, But Compromise Remains Elusive

After two days of high-stakes negotiations in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a set of peace proposals aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine could be finalised within days. Once ready, American envoys are expected to present these documents directly to the Kremlin. In a series of comments to journalists via WhatsApp on Tuesday morning, Zelenskyy outlined the next steps. “We are counting on five documents. Some of them concern security guarantees: legally binding, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” he said, as quoted by theGuardian. He added that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of Nato, offering Ukraine formal assurances without direct military involvement from the US. We continue the second day of intensive diplomacy in Berlin. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine!pic.twitter.com/nSOISLDrdS While US officials hailed the Berlin talks as productive, claiming they resolved “90%” of the most difficult issues, there was no clear sign that Russia is ready to compromise. The Russian delegation was notably absent from the discussions, and the Kremlin has yet to see the proposed documents. “We have seen newspaper reports so far, but we will not respond to them. We have not seen any texts yet,” Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Moscow, told reporters. Peskov reiterated Russia’s longstanding position, demanding territorial concessions from Ukraine and ruling out foreign troops on Ukrainian soil. “Our position is well known. It is consistent, it is transparent and it is clear to the Americans. And, in general, it is clear to the Ukrainians as well,” he said. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, added that Russia would not permit troops from Nato countries to operate in Ukraine “under any circumstances.” Meanwhile, European leaders, including the German chancellorFriedrich Merz, expressed cautious optimism. Merz described peace as being “closer than at any time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” though privately, officials acknowledge the talks are also aimed at ensuring continued US support for Ukraine under the Trump administration. The biggest elephant in the room remains the territorial dispute. US negotiators are reportedly pressing Ukraine to cede parts of theDonbas region, while Kyiv remains firm on retaining its current territories. Zelenskyy expects the documents to be finalised “today or tomorrow,” after which high-level meetings with the Russians could take place as soon as this weekend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Addis Ababa for a two-day State visit to Ethiopia, welcomed personally by Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali. Abiy Ahmed Ali drove PM Modi to the hotel, making unscheduled stops at the Science Museum and Friendship Park. The visit aims to boost India-Ethiopia ties, with talks on trade, agriculture, education, technology, and regional issues. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.