L to R: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Berlin, December 15, 2025

EA on International Outlets: Zelensky-Europe Face Trump’s Envoys in Berlin

Tuesday’s Coverage: Zelensky and Europe Regain Political Initiative In Talks With Trump’s Envoys

UPDATE 0728 GMT:

Donald Trump acknowledged on Tuesday night that his envoy to Russia, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, “knew nothing” about the country.

Trump said Witkoff’s qualifications is that he is the “great dealmaker” with the “greatest personality”: “Everybody loves Steve.”

UPDATE 0706 GMT:

Ukraine’s drones struck an oil refinery in southwest Russia overnight.

Local media posted video from residents showing the refinery on fire in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in the Krasnodar region.

Krasnodar officials said the strike damaged two high-voltage power lines, cutting power to more than 38,000 people. They did not mention the refinery.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says proposals to end Russia’s invasion will be presented within days to the Kremlin.

Zelensky told journalists on Tuesday that US envoys will visit Moscow, following last weekend’s discussions in Berlin including European leaders and Donald Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Further consultations and the trip to Russia could take place as soon as this weekend, he said.

US officials and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that “90%” of issues had been resolved, with remaining points on territory to be agreed.

Security guarantees include “sustained and significant support…for Ukraine to build its armed forces” at a peacetime level of 800,000 soldiers; a European-led Multinational Force Ukraine; and a US-led “ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism with international participation”.

“A legally binding commitment” would “take measures to restore peace and security in the case of a future armed attack”, through the use of armed forces, intelligence, and logistical, economic, and diplomatic actions.

Zelensky made clear on Tuesday that the Kremlin’s demand for all of the strategic Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine would not be accepted.

They want our Donbas [the Donetsk and Luhansk regions]. And we do not want to give away our Donbas.

The Americans want to find a compromise. They offer a “free economic zone”/ And I will emphasise once again: “Free economic zone” does not mean under the leadership of the Russian Federation.

The President said five documents are being completed. They included NATO Article 5-like “security guarantees: legally binding, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress.”

“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with more weapons if [Vladimir Putin] rejects everything. I think that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” Zelensky explained.

Russia Rejects Proposals In Advance

The Kremlin has already rejected the proposals to end its 47-month full-scale invasion.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says Moscow will not negotiate over occupied Ukrainian territory. He also implied that the Kremlin will not compromise on its demand for the 22% of the Donetsk region held by Ukraine.

Since 2022, the Donbass region [the Donetsk and Luhansk region] — the two republics located there — have become integral parts of the Russian Federation as a result of the referendums that were held there….

Similar things happened in Zaporizhia and Kherson. Thus, at present, we have four subjects that are integral parts of the Russian Federation.

I’m not talking about Crimea. This is a story that dates back to 2014….

We cannot compromise on this issue in any form, because this would, in our opinion, be a revision of one of the fundamental elements of our statehood, enshrined in our Constitution.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Zelensky’s proposal of a Christmas ceasefire.

Peskov said the truce would give Ukraine time to recover from heavy fighting and — in a perversion of reality — blamed Kyiv for continuing a war against another sovereign country.

He added the Russia is still dedicated to achieving all of its military objectives: “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.”