Ukraine's top negotiator Umerov meets E3 security advisers in Berlin amid Russian strike warnings and EU membership tensions

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), arrived in Berlin on 26 May for talks with national security advisers from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, according to sources cited by Politico. A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declined to comment, citing a "confidential meeting." Ukraine's embassy in Berlin also declined to comment.

The meeting comes after Russia warned foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv due to planned airstrikes and launched a large-scale strike on the capital over the weekend, threatening further "consistent and systemic strikes." The EU's ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, rejected Russia's demand to leave Kyiv, saying: "We stay in Kyiv. We stay with Ukraine."

The talks also take place amid tensions between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Merz proposed EU "associate membership" for Ukraine with limited rights and the possibility of becoming a full EU member at a later stage. Zelenskyy rejected Merz's proposal, saying that "Ukraine's place in the European Union must also be complete, full and equal." One EU diplomat, speaking anonymously, said the timing of Merz's push for associate membership was "noteworthy." "Last week, many in Brussels were asking why Merz makes his push for Ukraine's associate membership public just at this moment," the diplomat said. "The fact that Umerov is in Berlin today suggests there is a clear connection in the timing."

Umerov visited Brussels on 25 May and met Björn Seibert, Head of the Cabinet of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss EU-Ukraine defence cooperation. Before that, he visited Ankara and met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 25 May that the U.S. would step back from Ukraine peace talks, calling them "not fruitful." German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the E3 group was "making a fresh attempt to re-enter negotiations — with Europe playing a greater role."

Germany summoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev to the Foreign Office on 26 May, citing attacks on hospitals, schools, and TV studios, and demands for foreign embassies to leave Kyiv.