Ukraine and the US are due to hold a second day of talks in Berlin on a peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s invasion, with allied security guarantees for Kyiv a central focus of the negotiations.About 10 European leaders are also expected to attend a major summit on Monday together with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

US and Ukrainian officials are expected to meet for a second day of talks in Berlin on December 15 as Washington pushes for an agreement to end Russia's war on Ukraine and Kyiv struggles to avoid a deal that would favor Moscow.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy signals readiness to drop NATO membership as Kyiv, the US, and Europe review a ceasefire plan amid ongoing drone attacks.

Five hours of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and top United States negotiators did not yield a breakthrough compromise on a possible Ukraine peace deal, a Kremlin aide said early Wednesday.

During negotiations with U.S. envoys over a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday offered to drop Ukraine's NATO aspirations. Zelenskiy had said security guarantees from the United States, Europe and others instead of joining NATO was a compromise from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced readiness to present new peace proposals to the U.S. and Russia on Tuesday.

Efforts to find a resolution to halt Russia's nearly 4-year-old war on Ukraine appear to hit a brick wall after a Moscow meeting between US negotiators and President Vladimir Putin as Kremlin and Russian officials signal little willingness to back down from hard-line demands.

The European Union has decided to indefinitely freeze €210bn worth of Russia ’s assets, so that Hungary and Slovakia, two countries with friendly relations with Moscow, cannot prevent billions of euros from being used to support Ukraine.