Witkoff to meet Zelensky for latest Ukraine war talks

December 13, 2025

Over one million Ukrainian households lost power following intensive Russian strikes on energy and industrial infrastructure across five regions, injuring at least five people as Moscow escalates attacks heading into winter. US envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Berlin this weekend to meet with President Zelensky and European leaders to discuss the latest version of a peace proposal aimed at ending the war by Christmas. The negotiations remain contentious, particularly regarding eastern Ukrainian territory, with Zelensky expressing skepticism about US proposals to create a demilitarized "special economic zone" in the Donbas region.

Who is affected

More than one million Ukrainian households without electricity
At least five people injured in Ukraine from the strikes
Residents in five Ukrainian regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv
Two people killed in Saratov, Russia from a Ukrainian drone strike
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
European leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Russia and the Kremlin
Euroclear (Belgian bank holding frozen Russian assets)
The Belgian government

What action is being taken

Work is under way to extinguish fires and restore power supplies in Ukraine
Steve Witkoff is leading White House mediation attempts between Ukraine and Russia
The Trump administration is pushing for a peace deal by Christmas and holding talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives
Officials are negotiating the structure of a deal to repurpose Russian assets for Ukraine
Talks are ongoing over security guarantees and funding for Ukraine
Russia is using military strikes including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles against Ukrainian infrastructure

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a critical juncture in the nearly four-year war, with intensified Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure occurring simultaneously with high-stakes diplomatic negotiations that could potentially end the conflict. The attacks demonstrate Russia's strategy of targeting energy infrastructure as winter approaches, affecting over a million households and highlighting Ukraine's vulnerability. The peace talks represent the most significant diplomatic push to end the war, though major disagreements remain over territorial concessions that could reshape Ukraine's sovereignty and Europe's security architecture. Ukraine's dire financial situation—requiring €135.7 billion over two years—and the proposed repurposing of frozen Russian assets underscore the enormous economic stakes and long-term implications for European security and financial systems.

What's next

Steve Witkoff will travel to Germany this weekend to meet with Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin
An EU summit is scheduled for next week where officials hope to reach a deal on loaning frozen Russian assets to Ukraine
Ukraine could potentially hold elections within 90 days if the US and Europe provide necessary security
Under the proposed peace plan, Ukraine would become an EU member as soon as January 2027
Russia's central bank will sue Euroclear over the frozen assets

Read full article from source: BBC