“This is a historic decision that the United States is ready to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to allow Ukraine’s allies to provide it with NATO-style security guarantees, US special envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on Sunday. Speaking to CNN, Mr Witkoff said the Russian leader gave the concession during his meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. He described the development as “game-changing,” noting that the United States could extend Article 5-like protection to Ukraine.
Article 5 of NATO’s charter declares that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Russia has long opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership, but Mr Witkoff said this was the first time Mr Putin had accepted the possibility of Western security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meeting EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, called it a “historic decision,” while stressing the need for “practical” protection on land, air, and sea. European leaders will join Mr Zelenskyy for White House talks with Mr Trump this week.
However, Mr Putin reportedly demanded control of Donetsk and Luhansk as a condition for ending the war—an offer Mr Trump may press Mr Zelenskyy to accept, despite Kyiv’s rejection of any territorial concessions.