U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff noted on the 17th (local time) that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that the United States and European nations would provide Ukraine with security guarantees in the form of a 'collective defense obligation' during a summit with Donald Trump.
On that day, Witkoff said in a CNN interview regarding the U.S.-Russia summit on the 15th, 'We secured a concession that the U.S. could provide protection similar to Article 5 (of the North Atlantic Treaty) which is one of the reasons Ukraine hopes to join NATO.'
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that an attack on one member state is considered an attack on all members, allowing for necessary measures, including the use of force. Witkoff conveyed that this was the first time President Putin had agreed to such terms.
He characterized President Trump's proposal, which Putin agreed to, as 'a powerful security guarantee that could change the game,' adding that Russia would also promise not to seek additional territory in Ukraine.
Russia holds the position that peace negotiations would be possible if it receives the Donbas region of Ukraine. President Trump is reported to have informed European leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of a peace negotiation proposal contingent on relinquishing the Donbas region shortly after the summit with Putin.
President Zelenskyy has been requesting security guarantees from the U.S. for Ukraine but is reportedly resistant to the idea of relinquishing the Donbas region. Witkoff stated, 'There are no details on how the U.S. and Europe's security guarantees for Ukraine will work, what their roles will be, and what the European Union (EU) can do. This is our main challenge,' adding, 'We need security that functions like NATO's Article 5, and consider (Ukraine's) EU membership as part of that security guarantee.'
He also noted, 'We covered almost all the issues necessary for a peace agreement (during the U.S.-Russia summit),' and stated, 'We could see them (Russia) being somewhat more moderate in reaching a peace agreement.'