Ukraine Peace Talks Show Major Progress as US Offers Security Guarantees

The United States has agreed to provide unspecified security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a comprehensive peace deal to end Russia's nearly four-year war, marking what officials describe as the most successful stage of negotiations to date. Following intensive talks in Berlin between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders, and President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US officials reported significant progress toward reaching a peace agreement. The discussions, which lasted more than two days and included at least eight hours of direct talks with Zelenskyy, addressed all points of a 20-point framework for ending the conflict. "I think we're closer now than we have been, ever," Trump told reporters at a White House event, adding that his administration has held numerous conversations with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump dialed into a dinner Monday evening with negotiators and European leaders, with more talks expected this weekend in Miami or elsewhere in the United States. In a major concession, Zelenskyy announced his willingness to abandon Ukraine's longstanding ambition to join NATO if the country receives guarantees that the West would prevent another Russian invasion. "From the very beginning, Ukraine's desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees," Zelenskyy said, responding to questions from reporters. However, he emphasized that Ukraine needs firm guarantees from the United States and European allies similar to those offered to NATO members. The security guarantees being discussed are described by US officials as unprecedented, including NATO Article 5-like commitments, extensive monitoring mechanisms, and measures aimed at deterring and preventing renewed conflict. These guarantees represent a significant breakthrough in addressing one of Ukraine's key demands for any peace agreement. European leaders have also stepped forward with concrete proposals to support Ukraine's security. In a joint statement, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and eight other European countries said they are ready to lead a "multinational force" in Ukraine as part of the US peace proposal. This "coalition of the willing" with US support would "assist in the regeneration of Ukraine's forces, in securing Ukraine's skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine." However, significant challenges remain in the negotiations. The talks have revealed ongoing differences over Moscow's demand that Ukraine concede land in the Donbas region in the country's east. Ukraine has reportedly balked at Washington's call to withdraw its forces from portions of the eastern Donbas region that Kyiv's forces still hold. US officials who spoke anonymously described the Berlin discussions as producing "real consensus on a number of important issues," with one official characterizing the negotiations as broadly positive. The talks have become a complex balancing act between Washington's push for quick decisions and Zelenskyy's insistence, backed by European partners, that significant differences must be resolved before any agreement can be reached. The negotiations represent a critical juncture in efforts to end the conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While progress has been made on security guarantees and Ukraine's NATO aspirations, the territorial questions and enforcement mechanisms for any peace deal remain contentious issues that negotiators must resolve in the coming talks.