Ukraine security guarantees discussed in Washington

European leaders press for concrete protections for Kyiv as Washington hosts talks, while Moscow seeks its own assurances.

Ukraine security guarantees loom as Russia seeks credible assurances

In Washington, Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed a plan to offer security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a broader peace effort, stressing they must be practical and cover land, air and sea. Trump’s Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff said Vladimir Putin had agreed that the US and European allies could offer Ukraine a NATO-style, Article 5-like security guarantee as part of a settlement, a claim Witkoff has made before without a translator present. Russia’s Mikhail Ulyanov signalled Moscow also wants credible assurances for itself and Kyiv. European leaders including Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni, Keir Starmer, Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen were set to join Zelenskyy in Washington to press for clarity on what guarantees would look like in a settlement.

In interviews and briefings, US and European officials kept the frame practical, signaling openness to a Western security framework while insisting any deal must be verifiable. CBS reported that after talks in Alaska, Marco Rubio argued the focus should be on stopping the fighting rather than debating root causes, and Dan Sabbagh noted the inbound European delegation still hopes for a ceasefire and concrete guarantees. The piece highlights the complicated balance between immediate military needs and long-term political assurances as Washington weighs how far to go to cement Western guarantees.

The diplomacy shows that security guarantees are becoming a litmus test for Western unity and credibility. If the terms are vague, they risk being seen as rewards for aggression rather than safeguards for Kyiv. Russia’s call for reciprocal guarantees mirrors its aim to avoid isolation while keeping options on the table. The real test is turning promises into enforceable terms with clear timelines and cost sharing, something European capitals will watch closely as domestic politics shape their willingness to commit.

Public reaction and budgetary concerns loom as EU governments juggle political pain at home with long-term security commitments. The line between diplomacy and domestic politics is thin, and any perceived concession could spark backlash or skepticism about Western resolve. The coming weeks will reveal how credible, enforceable guarantees can be built without creating new flashpoints for confrontation.

Highlights

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