During a recent summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the United States and European allies to provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO's collective defense mandate. This development was announced by special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday. He described the agreement as a significant concession, stating, "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 emphasized that this was the first time he had heard Russian officials agree to such terms, calling it a "game-changing" moment. Article 5 of NATO's charter asserts that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed support for the agreement during a news conference in Brussels alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She stated, "We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine, and the ‘Coalition of the willing’ — including the European Union — is ready to do its share."

Witkoff provided insights into the discussions held at the summit in Alaska, noting that Russia had committed to not pursuing additional territorial claims in Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy acknowledged that many details regarding the implementation of these security guarantees remain unclear. He stated, "It is important that America agrees to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, but there are no details how it will work, and what America’s role will be, Europe’s role will be and what the EU can do."

Witkoff defended President Trump's decision to shift focus from seeking an immediate ceasefire to pursuing a broader peace deal, citing progress made during the talks. He remarked, "We covered almost all the other issues necessary for a peace deal," and noted a change in the Russian perspective on reaching a final agreement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accompanied Witkoff, indicated that while there would be consequences if a peace agreement is not reached, the absence of Ukraine from the summit meant no truce could be established. He stated, "Now, ultimately, if there isn’t a peace agreement, if there isn’t an end of this war, the president’s been clear, there are going to be consequences."

Rubio also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of new sanctions on Russia in achieving a ceasefire, emphasizing that the best path forward is a comprehensive peace deal. He said, "We’re not at the precipice of a peace agreement, and that getting there would not be easy and would take a lot of work."

Zelenskyy and European leaders are scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss the outcomes of the summit. Witkoff concluded, "I think everybody agreed that we had made progress. Maybe not enough for a peace deal, but we are on the path for the first time." He added that discussions regarding land swaps, a crucial issue for Ukraine, would take place in the upcoming meeting.