Zelenskyy Visits Kupiansk Frontline Ahead of Crucial Berlin Security Talks
KUPIANSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a symbolic visit Friday to the frontline city of Kupiansk, a strategic location in the Kharkiv region that Russia claimed to have seized just weeks earlier. The visit underscores Ukraine’s resolve to maintain control over contested territories and comes on the eve of critical security talks in Berlin with U.S. envoys.
In a video posted on his official social media channel X, Zelenskyy appeared clad in a flak jacket, standing before a damaged sign bearing the city’s name in Cyrillic script. “Today, I am in the Kupiansk sector, with our warriors who are getting the job done for Ukraine here,” he said. “The Russians kept going on about Kupiansk – the reality speaks for itself. I visited our troops and congratulated them.”
Russian state media, including the TASS news agency, reported in November that Russian forces had “liberated” Kupiansk, citing a briefing by Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia’s armed forces, to President Vladimir Putin. However, Zelenskyy’s visit signals Ukraine’s continued presence and control over the city despite those claims.
The timing of Zelenskyy’s frontline visit is significant as it precedes a pivotal round of negotiations scheduled for Sunday in Berlin. The talks will involve U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine. These discussions are part of broader efforts to secure a political agreement aimed at ending the war and ensuring Ukraine’s long-term safety.
“We are focusing on how to reliably guarantee Ukraine’s security so that the experience of the Budapest Memorandum and Russia’s invasion are never repeated,” Zelenskyy stated on X, referring to the 1994 agreement under which Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances. “We are counting on constructive talks.”
European leaders are closely watching the developments. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that any sustainable ceasefire must include firm guarantees protecting European security interests, warning that peace cannot come at the expense of the European Union or NATO or without their participation. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed these concerns, cautioning alliance members that they could be Russia’s next target if defense commitments wane.
Rutte, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, urged NATO countries to increase defense spending amid ongoing Russian aggression. The stakes remain high as Ukraine seeks to solidify international support and security guarantees that would deter future invasions.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Kupiansk, a city that has seen intense fighting, serves both as a morale boost for Ukrainian forces and a message to the international community. It highlights the resilience of Ukrainian troops on the ground and the country’s determination not to concede territory despite Russian claims.
As the Berlin talks approach, the world watches closely. The outcome could reshape Ukraine’s peace plan and influence the broader geopolitical landscape in Europe. The U.S. Department of State has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, signaling strong backing for Zelenskyy’s government.
With the conflict now entering its third year, the negotiations in Berlin represent a critical juncture. They aim to establish a framework that not only halts the fighting but also lays the groundwork for Ukraine’s postwar recovery and development. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s frontline presence reminds all parties of the human cost of the war and the urgent need for a durable resolution.
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