SVO News, December 15, 2025, Avia.pro. US representatives at negotiations with Ukraine in Berlin are insisting on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, which has become a key condition of the peace plan promoted by the Donald Trump administration. This became known from leaked documents published in Western media, including Reuters, following the meeting between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 14. This demand includes not only territories controlled by Russia but also zones where the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain a presence, significantly complicating Kyiv's position.

Zelenskyy previously proposed a compromise, agreeing to the creation of a "free economic zone" or a "demilitarized zone" in exchange for security guarantees, but the Americans insist on a more radical solution. This demand has caused tension, as Ukraine views Donbas as an integral part of its territory, despite the ongoing fighting. Sources indicate that abandoning Donbas could be a concession to expedite a ceasefire, especially given Trump's pressure to end the conflict.