Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin on December 15, 2025.
John Macdougall | Afp | Getty Images
A deal with Ukrainian leaders to end the war with Russia is nearly complete, American officials said Monday, as territorial disputes remain unresolved and strong security guarantees from the United States and European countries remain an issue.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in talks that began Sunday in Berlin.
Zelenskyy, who agreed to abandon his goal of joining NATO on Sunday, insisted on Article Five-like security protections as part of the peace deal, U.S. officials said in a call with reporters.
Article Five of the NATO agreement states that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on all member countries.
American officials said such an assurance from the United States would require congressional approval.
“We believe the Russians will accept all of this in a final agreement, which will allow for a strong and free Ukraine,” one official said.
The official added that Russians are open to Ukraine joining the European Union.
Officials said that about 90 percent of the problems between Ukraine and Russia have been resolved.
“But there are some things that need to be resolved,” an official said.
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Trump has renewed pressure in recent weeks to end the conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
In a recent interview with Politico, Trump said Zelenskyy should accept the US-backed deal because “he’s losing.”
Officials said that for the agreement to be final, Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin would have to reach an agreement on the land issue, and that this issue continues to be negotiated by the Americans and Ukrainians.
Putin demanded that Ukraine must surrender its territory for the war to end. Zelenskyy has so far refused to give up any land.
Negotiations are expected to continue through next weekend, possibly in Miami.
Trump is expected to attend a dinner that US officials will host with Zelenskyy and other European leaders on Monday night.
“I hope we are on the path to peace,” a US official said during the meeting.
