Renewed diplomatic push raises hope for peace in Ukraine

There are renewed hopes for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine following a second day of U.S.–Ukraine talks in Berlin aimed at brokering a peace agreement.

(NBC)- There are renewed hopes for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine following a second day of U.S.–Ukraine talks in Berlin aimed at brokering a peace agreement.

President Donald Trump said negotiations are making progress, telling reporters, “I think we’re closer now than we have been ever, and we’ll see what we can do,” while acknowledging the complexity of the talks.

In a major concession, Ukraine says it is willing to abandon its long-standing bid to join NATO — but only if the United States and European allies provide what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describes as “NATO-like” security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.

“Before taking any steps on the battlefield, both the military and the civilian population must have a clear understanding of what the security guarantees will be,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine is so far resisting another key demand from Moscow: surrendering territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of eastern Ukraine they still control as a condition for peace — a proposal Kyiv has rejected.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are working alongside Ukrainian and European officials to find a compromise. Trump said the talks are advancing but remain difficult.

“We’re making progress. It’s more difficult than anybody could have thought,” the president said.

Ukrainian negotiators, who have faced pressure to accept a U.S.-brokered proposal that initially favored some Russian demands, now say they are making real progress toward an agreement that could finally bring an end to the conflict.