Berlin :Senior officials from the United States and Ukraine met in Berlin on Friday to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in the war with Russia, as European leaders prepared for a major summit aimed at shaping the next phase of diplomacy.
The talks took place against the backdrop of growing pressure to find a path toward ending the conflict, which has entered its fourth year with heavy human and economic costs. The meeting brought together United States envoys and Ukrainian representatives ahead of a broader European summit expected to focus on security guarantees and long term stability.
Ukraineâs President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to hold further discussions with European leaders during the summit, as Kyiv seeks to maintain strong international backing while carefully navigating proposals for a possible pause in fighting.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the United States is encouraging Ukraine and its European allies to examine options for a limited ceasefire as a first step toward wider negotiations. European powers are reportedly reviewing draft ideas that would include security arrangements for Ukraine and a framework for reconstruction, while insisting that any deal must respect Ukraineâs sovereignty.
European leaders have stressed that peace cannot be imposed on Ukraine. Germany, France and the United Kingdom have underlined that Kyiv must remain central to any decision, even as diplomatic momentum builds for talks with Moscow.
At the same time, the European Union has moved to reinforce its political leverage by maintaining restrictions on Russian state assets and signalling continued financial and military support for Ukraine. Officials say these measures are intended to strengthen Ukraineâs position at the negotiating table.
Russia has shown little sign of softening its demands, with senior figures repeating claims over occupied territories. Fighting continues in several frontline areas, highlighting the gap between diplomatic efforts and realities on the ground.
The Berlin discussions reflect a delicate moment in the conflict, with allies seeking to balance the urgency of ending the war against the risks of a fragile or uneven peace. While no breakthrough is expected immediately, diplomats say the talks mark a serious attempt to test whether conditions exist for a broader political process.