European officials are concerned that a new US-initiated peace deal in Ukraine could allow Russia to use a demilitarized zone to re-invade Donbas. Moscow demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, while Kyiv refuses to cede territory.
US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin. Witkoff will also hold meetings with counterparts from France, Great Britain, and Germany.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Berlin this weekend to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. He will also hold meetings with his counterparts from France, Great Britain, and Germany.
President Zelenskyy announced the preparation of a defense group in Germany, which will work on the details of security guarantees for Ukraine. The group will be headed by Lieutenant General Hnatov and will include representatives of the Ukrainian army, intelligence, and security forces.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 15 for an exchange of views on peace talks and economic issues. European leaders and representatives of the EU and NATO will join the discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to visit Berlin on Monday. He will meet with the German Chancellor and representatives of Great Britain and France.
Leavitt said talks are ongoing and the US could send its representative to those talks this weekend "if there's a real chance of a peace deal being signed. "
Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine, France, Germany, and Great Britain will meet on Saturday, December 13, in Paris. They will discuss US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which includes territorial losses for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that "we are Russia's next target" and called for an immediate increase in defense spending. He emphasized that Putin is engaged in empire-building, and China, North Korea, and Iran support his aggressive stance.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the European side has submitted proposals for a peace plan for Ukraine to the United States. Negotiations with the American side could take place this weekend and continue next week in Berlin.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had a "constructive" conversation with US President Donald Trump, where they discussed Ukraine and a possible meeting in Berlin. Merz emphasized that Ukraine must decide on concessions, and also criticized Putin and supported the use of frozen Russian assets.
The Trump administration has handed European counterparts documents outlining its vision for Ukraine's reconstruction and Russia's return to the global economy. The proposals have sparked a fierce struggle between America and its allies in Europe.
About a dozen European heads of state and government will meet in Berlin on Monday to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are expected to be among those present.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the new US National Security Strategy contains parts unacceptable to Europe. He also noted that Europe should become less dependent on the United States.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the European Union must develop its own peace plan for Ukraine, without relying on US initiatives. This is due to the fact that Europe was "caught off guard" by a 28-point peace plan developed by American Trump negotiators together with the Russians without the participation of the EU.
Germany has become the first European country to deploy the advanced Arrow air defense system. It is designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles, such as Russia's "Oreshnik," and will be deployed in three locations by 2030.
Germany will purchase American weapons for Ukraine for $200 million under the PURL program. An additional $25 million will be allocated for winter equipment and medical supplies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from NATO.
US President Donald Trump will host the G20 at his golf resort in Miami next year, personally determining the guest list. He will not invite South Africa, which chairs the G20 this year and has incurred his wrath.
Ukrzaliznytsia announced new international railway routes. For the first time, sleeping cars will run from Uzhhorod to Vienna, and Berehove will get a direct connection to Budapest. It will be possible to reach Germany with one transfer.
Germany is developing and implementing a secret 1,200-page "Operational Plan Germany" (OPLAN DEU) in case of war with Russia, which provides for the transfer of up to 800,000 NATO troops to the front line. The plan details logistics and defense, and also brings back a Cold War mentality, taking into account modern threats and infrastructure problems.
Russia's war against Ukraine is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Russians, leaving a noticeable mark on the economy. Russians are experiencing price increases faster than wage growth and are cutting back on food spending.
Yorgos Lanthimos' black comedy "Bugonia," Olivier Laxe's post-apocalyptic road movie "Sirens," and Masha Schilinski's German drama "The Sound of Falling" topped the list with five nominations each for the 2026 European Film Awards. The awards ceremony will take place on January 17 in Berlin.
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages concluded in other EU countries, as refusal violates EU citizens' rights to respect for private life and freedom of movement. This decision concerns the case of a Polish couple who married in Berlin and were denied marriage registration in Poland.
Germany and France have set a deadline of December 18 for aviation concerns regarding the FCAS/SCAF program. The project, which is intended to replace Rafale and Eurofighter fighter jets after 2040, faces conflicts over work distribution and intellectual property rights.
The German Chancellor, the Presidents of France, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain will hold an urgent conversation with Zelenskyy. They will discuss the US and Russian plan to end the war. A meeting is also expected on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa.
European countries have expressed their position on a possible US peace plan for Ukraine and Russia, developed in secret. Most emphasize the need to involve Ukraine and Europe in any peace agreements.
The German Chancellor's Cabinet has approved a law allowing the Bundeswehr to shoot down unknown drones suspected of spying on military bases and industrial facilities. The military will be able to use force against UAVs at the request of local police, using weapons or jammers.
US President's envoy to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, calls on European allies to take a more aggressive stance on Moscow and use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This move would provide support to Ukraine for years and signal a new, bolder phase in European politics.
On Tuesday, November 18, a trilateral meeting will take place in Berlin between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders will meet for dinner after the summit on Europe's digital sovereignty, in which Macron will participate.
In the German capital, a number of schools received fake threats of violence via social media, causing panic. Police are investigating Russia's possible involvement in the disinformation campaign.
