US Pushes Ukraine Peace Deal by Christmas Amid Territorial Standoff

BERLIN — The US-led diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine is accelerating, with President Donald Trump’s overseas envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveling to Berlin this weekend to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top European leaders. Washington is pressuring all parties for a peace deal to be signed by Christmas, a timeline complicated by deep disagreements over the fate of eastern Ukrainian territory.

The meeting, expected to include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, follows Ukraine’s submission of a revised 20-point peace plan to the US.

The most intractable issue remains the Donbas region, which Moscow insists on seizing entirely. The latest US proposal to resolve the question involves a controversial compromise: Ukraine’s army would pull out of the region to create a demilitarized zone, which would be transformed into a “special economic zone.” Russia, in turn, would undertake not to advance into the vacated areas.

President Zelensky reacted sceptically to the proposal, questioning the security of such a zone: “What will restrain [Russia] from advancing? Or from infiltrating disguised as civilians?” Kyiv continues to refuse to cede any territory illegally occupied by Russia.

The high-stakes diplomacy is unfolding against a backdrop of intensified Russian military action. Ukrainian officials reported a massive series of overnight bombardments using more than 450 drones and 30 missiles, including hard-to-track Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

The strikes hit civilian facilities, including energy infrastructure, leaving thousands without electricity. Crucially, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—located in Russian-controlled territory—temporarily lost all offsite power, prompting concern from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The White House is clearly signaling impatience with Kyiv and its European backers. Earlier this week, President Trump labelled European leaders “weak” and renewed calls for wartime elections in Ukraine, which Zelensky says could be held within 90 days if security can be guaranteed.