AFP: US pressed Ukraine to cede part of Donbas during Berlin talks

American negotiators pressed Ukraine to relinquish parts of the Donbas region it controls as a condition for a peace process with Russia during talks held in Berlin, a source told AFP, a French international news agency.

According to the source, US negotiators urged Kyiv to withdraw its forces from Ukrainian-held areas of Donbas as part of Washington’s approach to ending the war. Ukraine has rejected the demand, insisting that any ceasefire must come without prior territorial concessions to Russia.

Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, declared “significant progress” following the talks, which were also attended by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the source said.

However, the source added that the US position remains unchanged and “largely aligns with Moscow’s stance”. “Putin wants territory”, the official said, describing Washington’s demands as “somewhat strange”.

Media reports had earlier said a meeting between European leaders - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - is scheduled to take place in Berlin today to discuss Ukraine’s peace plan.

A day earlier, negotiations began in the German capital between a Ukrainian delegation led by Zelenskyy, Witkoff and Kushner. The talks lasted more than five hours, after which Witkoff announced “significant progress”.

A second round of consultations between Ukrainian and American delegations began earlier today in Berlin, focusing on the US peace plan aimed at ending the war.