Zelenskyy to Meet with European Leaders in Key Weekend Discussions

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders in Berlin this weekend as Washington pushes to end the war in Ukraine. The high-level diplomatic gathering signals a renewed American effort to broker peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

The White House confirmed Friday that Witkoff would hold the meetings, following earlier reports from the Wall Street Journal. A White House official told AFP that the discussions would focus on potential peace negotiations, though specific details about the talks remain unclear.

Germany announced it would host the Monday meetings in Berlin, making it a key diplomatic hub for the peace efforts. The choice of Berlin is significant - Germany has been one of Ukraine's strongest European supporters while maintaining some diplomatic channels with Russia.

This marks one of the first major diplomatic moves by Trump's administration to address the Ukraine conflict. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to end the war quickly, though he never spelled out exactly how he planned to do it.

For investors and markets, any serious peace talks could shake up several sectors. Defense contractors have seen steady business from weapons sales to Ukraine. Energy markets could also shift if a deal affects Russian oil and gas exports, which remain under heavy sanctions.

But here's the challenge: Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on basic terms. Ukraine wants its territory back and security guarantees. Russia still controls about 20% of Ukrainian land and shows little sign of giving it up without major concessions.

European leaders attending the talks face their own balancing act. They've invested heavily in supporting Ukraine but also deal with war fatigue among their populations and the economic costs of prolonged conflict.