In a surprising development, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has agreed to the framework for the United States and European allies to provide NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine, as part of a peace deal aimed at ending the ongoing war.
This arrangement, which emerged from Trump’s recent summit with Putin in Alaska, could potentially serve as a critical shift in the dynamics of international support for Ukraine.
Witkoff shared these details during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” emphasizing that this is the first time Russia had shown openness toward such security commitments, essential for Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO.
“We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff stated.
The proposed deal would require a collective defense arrangement wherein the U.S. and its European allies would pledge to protect Ukraine from potential future attacks.
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed some reservations regarding the U.S. commitment to these security guarantees.
“It would be a very big move by the president if he were to offer a U.S. commitment to a security guarantee. That will be his decision to make,” Rubio commented during a separate Fox News interview.
He suggested that such a move would underscore President Trump’s commitment to pursuing peace in the region.
NATO’s Article 5, which stipulates collective defense in the event of an attack on one member state, has long been a cornerstone of the alliance’s deterrence strategy.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been partly justified by longstanding grievances regarding Ukraine’s aspirations to join both NATO and the EU, seen as defensive measures against Russian aggression.
The proposed security guarantees are expected to play a significant role in the peace negotiations President Trump is advocating.
Interestingly, Putin mentioned that China, a key ally, could potentially serve as one of the security guarantors in any agreement, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape at play.
The Russian President has expressed firm opposition to NATO admission for Ukraine, raising red flags for future discussions.
Back in 1994, an agreement known as the “Budapest Memorandum” established security guarantees from countries including the U.S. and the UK in exchange for Ukraine denuclearizing.
Witkoff defended the approach taken by Trump, arguing that pursuing a comprehensive peace deal could expedite a cessation of hostilities faster than negotiating a ceasefire, which often leads to prolonged discussions.
He articulated that the negotiations needed for a ceasefire closely mirror those necessary for a full peace deal.
“We made so much progress at this meeting with regard to all the other ingredients necessary for a peace deal that President Trump pivoted to that,” Witkoff explained.
In response to questions about whether a comprehensive peace deal could indeed be reached quicker than a ceasefire, Witkoff confidently stated that discussions for a ceasefire would likely encompass all the issues already resolved in Alaska.
Trump had conveyed his discontent with the lack of a ceasefire agreement prior to the summit but subsequently characterized the meeting as yielding significant “progress.”
Despite failing to secure a ceasefire, Witkoff remarked on important concessions from Russia during discussions regarding various disputed territories.
Although he refrained from detailing these concessions, it is noted that Ukraine regards Crimea as a disputed oblast, contributing to the complexity of the talks.
Among the contentious issues, Russia has insisted that Ukraine surrender further control of the resource-rich Donetsk region, historically aligned with Russia.
Current estimates indicate that Russia controls approximately three-quarters of Donetsk, but their advances have been impeded by formidable defenses mounted by Ukrainian forces.
Russia purportedly offered to stabilize its positions in other regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for Ukrainian concessions on Donetsk, but Witkoff did not confirm specific terms discussed during the meeting.
Crucially, he emphasized that President Trump cannot make decisions relating to territorial concessions on Ukraine’s behalf, reaffirming respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Witkoff pointed out, “The one thing that the president cannot agree to on behalf of the Ukrainians is any sort of land swap. That is for the Ukrainians.”
He asserted that while discussions had covered many critical points for an eventual peace deal, resolving territorial disputes remains solely within the authority of Ukraine.
Trump himself acknowledged a significant unresolved issue, but refrained from elaborating further on that front.
In an anticipated event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Trump in the White House on Monday, a high-stakes encounter that could define future U.S.-Ukraine relations.
image source from：aol
