Ukraine Updates: EU Allies Continue Peace Talks in Berlin

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Berlin meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European allies to discuss a path towards peace. Meanwhile, in Brussels, debates continue regarding reparations loans to support Kyiv.

Here's a summary of the key developments for Monday, December 15, 2025:

**Negotiations and Diplomacy**

Talks aimed at negotiating an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are ongoing in Berlin. According to the Kremlin, Putin is interested in a resolution to the war, not just a temporary ceasefire. A key condition for Russia remains Ukraine's neutrality and its abandonment of NATO aspirations, according to spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the current peace talks are the most serious to date, noting that the US delegation had coordinated its position with Moscow. Discussions involve Ukraine potentially forgoing NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees from the US based on the current frontlines.

**Survey of Ukrainian Public Opinion**

A recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology reveals that most Ukrainians do not anticipate a swift end to the war. The survey also indicated a decline in trust towards the United States. Key findings include:

• % of Ukrainians would support a peace plan that freezes the conflict along the current frontlines, with security guarantees for Ukraine, without formally recognizing occupied territories as Russian.
• % oppose a plan involving troop withdrawal from Donbas, restrictions on the Ukrainian army, and lacking specific security guarantees.
• Only 9% expect the war to end by early 2026, and another 14% by mid-2026.
• % are prepared to endure the war for as long as necessary.
• Trust in the EU remains relatively stable, with 49% expressing trust and 23% distrust.
• Trust in the US has decreased significantly, from 41% to 21% between December 2024 and December 2025. Faith in NATO also declined from 43% to 34% during the same period.
• % trust President Zelenskyy, while 32% do not.
• A small minority, 9%, desire elections to be held as soon as possible, even before the end of hostilities.

The survey was conducted via telephone interviews with 547 adult Ukrainians in government-controlled territory.

**Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Impact**

Fighting persists in Ukraine. Russian forces have reportedly captured Pishchane, a town in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have left over 430,000 people without power in the Odesa Oblast.

**EU Discussions on Financial Aid**

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described discussions regarding financial support for Ukraine as "increasingly difficult." The EU is considering using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's defense through a reparations loan, though some member states have reservations. Kallas emphasized that a reparations loan agreement would send a strong message that aggressors must pay for the damages they inflict.

**Zelenskyy's Berlin Schedule**

President Zelenskyy's itinerary in Berlin includes meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as participation in a German-Ukrainian Economic Forum. He is also scheduled to meet with other European leaders, including the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with heads of the European Commission, European Council, and NATO.