Ukraine Could Receive NATO-Style Security Guarantees Under U.S.-Backed Peace Proposal
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (GeokHub) Ukraine could be offered security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause under a U.S.-proposed peace deal with Russia, according to American officials, marking an unprecedented move aimed at ending the war triggered by Moscow’s 2022 invasion.
Two U.S. officials said the proposed protections were discussed during two days of negotiations in Berlin, including a dinner meeting on Monday night involving Ukrainian, U.S. and European representatives. They described the guarantees as “Article 5-like,” signaling a strong commitment to Ukraine’s security despite the country not being a NATO member.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and leaders from Germany, Italy, NATO, Finland, France, Britain, Poland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands following the Berlin talks. Trump expressed optimism that a deal could be within reach.
“We’re trying to get it done,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I think we’re closer now than we have been ever, and we’ll see what we can do.”
Territory Remains the Key Obstacle
U.S. officials said there was broad agreement on roughly 90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia. However, they acknowledged that territorial and sovereignty questions remain unresolved and would need to be settled by the parties themselves.
Ukraine has repeatedly said it will not cede territory, a position backed by public opinion at home. Opinion polls show few Ukrainians are willing to accept territorial concessions, which remain a core demand from Moscow. Russian officials, meanwhile, have shown little willingness to compromise on those demands.
One U.S. official said Russia appeared open to Ukraine joining the European Union, while Trump’s priority was preventing Russia from advancing further west in Europe.
What the Guarantees Would Mean
Article 5 is the cornerstone of NATO’s founding treaty, stating that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. While it remains unclear how far Washington would go in extending similar protection to Ukraine, officials said the proposed guarantees would include robust monitoring, oversight and deconfliction measures designed to prevent minor incidents from escalating into broader conflict.
“These guarantees will not be on the table forever,” one U.S. official said, adding that they are available only if a peace agreement is reached under acceptable terms.
The talks in Berlin were led by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Officials said multiple options had been proposed to bridge remaining gaps, particularly on territorial issues.
Working groups are expected to meet in the United States later this week, possibly in Miami, to continue narrowing differences. One official said negotiators had already produced a three-page draft addressing territorial questions, which Zelenskiy is expected to review with his team before discussions eventually extend to Moscow.
Rebuilding Ukraine
Beyond security, negotiators also discussed a post-war economic recovery plan for Ukraine. One U.S. official described the proposal as a “prosperity package” aimed at rebuilding the country.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has assembled a team to work with the World Bank on the initiative, while European officials have indicated a willingness to provide financial backing for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
