During a summit in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly indicated a willingness to allow the United States and European countries to provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to those offered by NATO as part of a potential peace agreement. This information was shared by Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for former U.S. President Trump. A meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
The Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin occurred on August 15th. Witkoff, who was present at the meeting, described Russia’s stance as a game-changer. He revealed that discussions had led to an understanding that the United States could provide Ukraine with security akin to Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Ukraine has been seeking NATO membership to secure such guarantees.
**Understanding NATO’s Article 5**
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, forms the bedrock of NATO’s collective defense principle. It stipulates that an armed attack against any of the 32 member states in Europe or North America will be considered an attack against them all. If this agreement moves forward, it would signify a significant shift in Putin’s position, as he has consistently opposed Ukraine receiving security guarantees similar to those offered by NATO.
**US Secretary of State Advocates for a Balanced Deal**
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also present during the Trump-Putin talks, emphasized the need for detailed negotiations. He stated that discussions would focus on determining which guarantees are feasible and how to implement them, in collaboration with allies. Rubio cautioned against any party expecting to achieve all its objectives.
Rubio noted that if one side were to get everything it wanted, it wouldn’t be a peace agreement but rather a surrender. He did not foresee the war concluding imminently based on surrender. He added that if the negotiations fail, existing US sanctions against Russia would remain in place and could be further intensified.
**European Leaders’ Participation in the Washington Meeting**
Rubio also addressed the tensions that have arisen between Zelensky and Trump. Zelensky visited the White House in February, which was marked by a sharp exchange between Trump and Zelensky. Rubio dismissed the notion that European leaders were only attending the upcoming meeting to support Zelensky. He explained their participation as a collaborative effort with European nations, by invitation.
The scheduled meeting in Washington will include the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British PM Keir Starmer.