Following initial talks on Sunday, European leaders at the Berlin summit—including Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson—agreed on December 15 on a multinational force with US support to secure Ukraine's rebuilding and defense. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US envoy Steve Witkoff participated, clarifying security guarantees amid ongoing concerns over territories and Russia's stance.
The Berlin Ukraine summit continued on December 15, 2025, building on Sunday's discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and US envoys. Leaders from Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Nordic countries issued a joint statement welcoming US President-elect Donald Trump's peace efforts and committing to a multinational peacekeeping force.
The force aims to support Ukraine's reconstruction, bolster airspace and maritime defense, and expand the Ukrainian army to about 800,000 soldiers in peacetime—exceeding Russia's prior demand of 600,000—to deter aggression.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) called the meeting constructive, highlighting clearer security guarantees: “The question of security guarantees for Ukraine after the war has become clearer and more credible. This in itself is an important step toward sustainable peace.” He noted persistent challenges: “Many difficult questions remain, not least about territories and whether Russia wants peace at all.”
Merz declared peace “closer than ever,” while Zelenskyy thanked US cooperation and noted removal of problematic elements from documents. Trump described the talks as “very good,” with strong European backing.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov acknowledged a potential diplomatic solution but demanded control over Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, rejecting any Western military presence, including NATO troops.
