American, Ukrainian and European representatives have reached an agreement on the issue of unspecified guarantees for Ukraine's security within the framework of peace talks held on December 15 in Berlin. This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), News.bg reports.
The meeting was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and former senior adviser to the US President Jared Kushner. The talks were aimed at continuing efforts for a possible peace agreement to end the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.
According to two American officials quoted by the New York Times on December 15, the United States, Ukraine and their European partners have united around the idea of future security guarantees for Ukraine, described as “similar to those of NATO“. According to the same sources, the main part of the talks on December 14 and 15 was devoted to the topic of security, without revealing specific details.
However, the Kremlin has repeatedly stated that it will not accept a peace agreement that includes reliable guarantees for Ukraine's security, as well as provisions protecting its territorial integrity. Moscow has effectively rejected the 28-point American peace proposal that included similar guarantees.
On December 15, President Zelensky stressed that negotiations on territorial issues were continuing. American officials, quoted by the New York Times, noted that any decisions on these issues would likely have to be made in direct dialogue between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin has consistently refused to meet with Zelensky, including in the run-up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and during several subsequent rounds of peace talks. In the past, Russia has already demanded territorial concessions that Ukraine considers unacceptable, including the so-called “fortress belt“ – a key fortified defensive line in the Donetsk region, which has played a central role in Ukrainian defense since 2014.
According to ISW, the possible retreat of this line would give Russia a strategic advantage and better positions for future military actions against the southwestern and central regions of Ukraine. The institute continues to assess that Moscow will use both political and military tools to achieve its stated goal - the seizure of all of Ukraine. Therefore, Russia is unlikely to accept a peace agreement or security guarantees that do not give it full control over the country in the medium to long term.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Navy carried out its first-ever attack with an unmanned underwater vehicle against a Russian submarine on the night of December 14-15.
On land, Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive in the direction of Kupyansk, with even Russian ultranationalist military bloggers acknowledging the plight of Russian units in the area. At the same time, Russian forces are striking Ukrainian logistics routes in the Odessa region with various air munitions, including cruise missiles. This further highlights Ukraine’s dire need for a well-secured and multi-layered air defense.
The Russian attacks also appear to be aimed at achieving the Kremlin’s stated goal of destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by severing the country’s electricity grid. To counter these strikes, Ukraine needs Western air defense systems, as well as support for the development of effective means of intercepting drones.
According to ISW, Ukrainian forces have recently made progress in the western part of Zaporizhia Oblast, while Russian troops have scored tactical successes in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka area.