Trump Envoy: Putin Agrees to NATO-Style Security Guarantees for Ukraine

In a significant development following a summit with President Trump, Special U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff announced Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to allow the United States and its European allies to offer Ukraine security guarantees akin to NATO’s collective defense mandate. This concession, described by Witkoff as “game-changing,” could form a crucial part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war in Ukraine.

Witkoff, who participated in talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, revealed on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Russia had for the first time agreed to “Article 5-like protection” for Ukraine, a long-standing aspiration for Kyiv. He also indicated Russia’s commitment to a law preventing aggression against other European countries.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the potential for such guarantees, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, currently in Washington D.C. for an anticipated White House meeting, expressed gratitude but stressed the need for concrete details. Zelenskyy also firmly reiterated Ukraine’s stance against territorial concessions, pushing back on suggestions of ceding Crimea or parts of Donbas as part of a peace deal.

While Secretary of State Rubio acknowledged that a full peace deal is not imminent, he cited enough movement in the recent talks to justify follow-up discussions with Zelenskyy and European leaders. The negotiations represent a potential workaround to Putin’s long-standing objections to Ukraine’s NATO membership, aiming to establish lasting security for the war-torn nation.

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