Overview
- Following Berlin meetings on Dec. 14–15, Kyiv reported serious movement on U.S. security guarantees that would be legally binding and require Congressional approval.
- Zelensky stated Ukraine will not recognize the occupied part of Donbas as Russian either de jure or de facto.
- He said no compromise has been reached on the territorial question and cited a U.S. idea for a "free economic zone" that would not imply Russian control.
- Ukraine is not currently discussing a referendum on resolving the territorial issue.
- Kyiv plans to finalize its documents within a day as Washington consults Moscow before a possible team meeting in the United States, and Ukraine backed a German proposal for a Christmas ceasefire contingent on Russia’s political will.