Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convened an urgent video conference on Dec. 11, 2025 with officials from roughly 30 partner countries—the self-styled “Coalition of the Willing”—to coordinate Kyiv’s stance in peace talks as U.S. President Donald Trump increased pressure for a rapid settlement. The meeting aimed to rally diplomatic and security backing after Trump urged Kyiv to accept compromises and questioned Ukraine’s ability to hold elections while at war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told ambassadors that President Vladimir Putin and his envoys underscored Moscow’s view that any settlement must include security guarantees for Ukraine and other parties. The session is part of a fast-moving diplomatic scramble by European and Ukrainian leaders to shape terms they say should not reward Russia’s invasion.
Key Takeaways
- Zelensky held an emergency video call on Dec. 11, 2025 with about 30 countries in a group billed the “Coalition of the Willing” to coordinate a common position in peace negotiations.
- Russia, via FM Sergei Lavrov, said Moscow is prepared to sign a “legally binding treaty” that would include security guarantees for Ukraine and other parties; Lavrov cited proposals Moscow offered NATO in 2021.
- U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pressed Zelensky to be “realistic,” suggested Ukraine is losing ground, and said Europeans want him to visit Europe soon to discuss peace.
- Kyiv has prepared a revised 20-point settlement proposal after consultations with European allies; Zelensky insists he will not cede territory without a referendum, which his constitution requires.
- Russia demands control of the Donbas, roughly one-fifth of which remains under Ukrainian control, making territorial compromise the most contentious issue.
- European leaders including Germany, France and the U.K. joined consultations with Zelensky and warned against any U.S.-brokered terms that could reward Russia’s invasion.
- Zelensky faces domestic political pressure amid a corruption scandal involving senior officials, and says secure Western guarantees would be necessary to hold elections during or after a settlement.
Background
The Russia-Ukraine war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 has produced repeated diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated end, with territorial control and security guarantees at the center of disagreements. Western governments have supplied arms and financial aid to Kyiv while also weighing the risks of extended conflict to European security and energy markets. Russia has repeatedly demanded territorial concessions, notably in the Donbas region; Kyiv rejects ceding land absent a national referendum, which it says cannot be held under wartime conditions.
Relations between the United States and its European allies have become more complicated under President Trump’s foreign-policy approach, which has included outreach to leaders seen as sympathetic to closer ties with Moscow and a recent U.S. national security strategy that drew praise from Russia-aligned European politicians. European capitals are coordinating new peace proposals—Kyiv’s revised 20-point list among them—seeking to prevent sharp unilateral pressure that might hand Russia strategic gains.
Main Event
On Dec. 11, 2025, Zelensky convened the hastily arranged Coalition call to present Kyiv’s revised negotiating posture and to seek formal backing against perceived coercion from the U.S. administration. Leaders from Germany, the U.K., and France participated, according to officials, with the aim of creating a unified Western response to both Moscow’s demands and new U.S. pressure for a quick settlement. European participants emphasized the need to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the security of any elections the country might hold.
Separately in Moscow, FM Sergei Lavrov briefed ambassadors and cited a meeting between President Putin and two U.S. envoys, saying Moscow expects security guarantees to cover Ukraine and other parties and noted Moscow’s readiness to sign a binding treaty. Lavrov also warned that proposed NATO-backed peacekeeping deployments could become “legitimate targets” for Russian forces—an argument Moscow uses to oppose foreign forces on Ukrainian soil.
President Trump, after a multi-party call with European leaders, said Zelensky “has to be realistic” and urged compromises, arguing that Russia currently holds stronger positions on the battlefield. Trump also indicated discussions with U.K., French and German leaders were “pretty strong” and suggested a European visit might follow once the U.S. clarifies certain matters. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said Europeans plan to work with the American government over key documents and hoped for a possible meeting in Berlin.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate consequence of the Coalition meeting is a clearer public alignment among European capitals and Kyiv against a rushed U.S.-brokered settlement that many fear would entrench Russian gains. If the U.S. continues to press for rapid concessions, transatlantic cohesion on negotiation terms could fray, complicating joint military aid, sanctions policy and the long-term architecture of European security.
Moscow’s proposal to enshrine “security guarantees” in a legally binding treaty raises complex verification and enforcement questions. Western states are likely to insist on mechanisms—including troop deployments, monitoring, or third-party guarantees—that Moscow has historically rejected. The Kremlin’s insistence that guarantees apply to all parties appears aimed at securing immunities and limits on foreign military presence in former Soviet states.
Deploying multinational peacekeepers to Ukraine, an idea discussed among some NATO allies, faces legal and operational hurdles: Moscow argues forces would be legitimate targets, while Kyiv and Western planners worry about mission robustness and the risk of escalation. Any contingent without a clear and accepted mandate could encounter immediate combat exposure and political resistance at home in contributing countries.
Comparison & Data
| Actor | Main Position | Primary Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine (Zelensky) | No territorial concessions without referendum | Security guarantees, Western backing for elections |
| Russia (Putin/Lavrov) | Legally binding treaty; guarantees for all parties | Control of Donbas, limits on foreign forces |
| U.S. (Trump) | Pressure for quick settlement | Compromises from Kyiv; clarity before European talks |
| EU/UK/France/Germany | Coordinate to protect Ukraine and European security | Joint drafting of documents; collective bargaining |
The table summarizes positions at the core of current negotiations. While Russia emphasizes legal guarantees and territorial claims, Kyiv focuses on constitutional constraints and the need for outside security assurances. European governments are attempting to mediate a middle path, but U.S. pressure for speed complicates consensus-building.
Reactions & Quotes
European leaders expressed concern and urged careful coordination. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the territorial question must ultimately be decided by Ukrainians in consultation with their allies and that Europeans intended to work through draft documents with the U.S. ahead of any possible Berlin meeting.
“We understand that security guarantees must include Ukraine,”
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (paraphrased)
Lavrov presented Moscow’s view to diplomats in Moscow, framing guarantees as a multilateral issue that cannot be limited to Ukraine alone while warning against peacekeeper deployments he said would be targeted.
“He has to be realistic,”
Donald J. Trump, U.S. President (public remarks)
Trump’s public comments pressured Kyiv to accept compromises and signaled a U.S. desire for a faster diplomatic outcome, prompting urgency among European partners to align positions before bilateral U.S.-Europe talks.
Unconfirmed
- Precise text of Putin’s commitments to the U.S. envoys reported by Lavrov has not been published; independent confirmation of Moscow’s offer to sign a specific treaty text is pending.
- Reports that the U.S. has set a firm deadline for a settlement have not been corroborated by an official White House timetable.
- Details on the exact membership and mandate language of any future peacekeeping force remain speculative and have not been finalized publicly.
Bottom Line
The Dec. 11, 2025 Coalition call illustrates Kyiv and European governments moving quickly to shape a negotiating framework as U.S. pressure for a rapid deal increases. Core obstacles—territorial claims over the Donbas, the constitutional requirement for a Ukrainian referendum, and how to craft credible security guarantees—remain unresolved and will determine whether talks produce a durable settlement or merely a temporary pause.
For observers, the coming days are likely to be decisive: joint European drafting, further U.S.-European consultations and any formal Russian treaty proposal will reveal whether diplomacy can align with battlefield realities. If Western unity fractures or Kyiv is forced into concessions without robust guarantees, the agreement risks instability and long-term security costs across Europe.