BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoys arrived in Berlin on Sunday for another round of talks aimed at negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, as Moscow and Kyiv maintained sharply opposing positions on a prospective peace deal.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials would hold a series of meetings, including his own talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

In comments shared with journalists via audio messages, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine needs firm, legally binding security guarantees from the United States and European allies, comparable to those provided to NATO members, after Kyiv’s bid to join the alliance was blocked.

“These security guarantees are an opportunity to prevent another wave of Russian aggression,” Zelenskyy said. “And this is already a compromise on our part.”

He added that any assurances must be backed by the U.S. Congress and said he expected updates following meetings between Ukrainian and U.S. military officials in Stuttgart. Zelenskyy also said he would meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and possibly other European leaders later Sunday, noting that Washington had yet to respond to Ukraine’s latest peace proposals.

The United States has sought for months to bridge the gap between the two sides as Trump pushes for a swift end to the war, but talks have stalled over key issues, including control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, most of which is occupied by Russian forces.

Zelenskyy again rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the remaining areas of Donetsk under Kyiv’s control.

He also dismissed a U.S.-floated idea for Ukraine to pull back and establish a demilitarized free economic zone in the region, calling it unworkable.

“I do not consider this fair,” Zelenskyy said, arguing that any withdrawal by Ukrainian forces would need to be matched by a corresponding Russian pullback.

He described the territorial issue as highly sensitive and said a freeze along the current line of contact was the most realistic option.

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russian police and national guard forces would remain in parts of Donetsk even if the area were designated a demilitarized zone.

He warned that compromises could take time and said Moscow viewed changes proposed by Ukraine and its European allies as unacceptable.

Ushakov said territorial issues were discussed during earlier meetings between Witkoff, Kushner and Putin, adding that U.S. officials understood Russia’s position.

Meanwhile, fighting continued. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched ballistic missiles and 138 drones overnight, with strikes recorded at six locations. Zelenskyy said hundreds of thousands of families remained without power following recent attacks.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 235 Ukrainian drones, while regional officials reported damage from drone strikes on both sides.

“Ukraine needs peace on decent terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible,” Zelenskyy said. “These days will be filled with diplomacy, and it is very important that it brings results.” — Agencies