Kyiv’s Top Negotiator Hails ‘Real Progress’ During 2nd Day of Peace Talks in Berlin

‘We hope we will reach an agreement that will bring us closer to peace by the end of the day,’ negotiator Rustem Umerov said.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff (L) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (C) alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) at the Chancellery in Berlin on Dec. 14, 2025. Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung via Getty Images

Real progress was made with the U.S. delegation in Berlin during the second round of peace talks to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv’s top negotiator Rustem Umerov said Dec. 15.

“Over the past two days, Ukrainian–US negotiations have been constructive and productive, with real progress achieved. We hope we will reach an agreement that will bring us closer to peace by the end of the day,” he said in a post on X.