"We were able to win the following concession, that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection," Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to Russia, told CNN.
"The United States could offer Article 5 protection, which was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that."
Witkoff was referring to NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
Such a guarantee could be offered in place of full NATO membership, which Vladimir Putin has ruled out.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and continues to advance in what has become Europe’s deadliest conflict in eight decades.
Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who both attended Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday, said progress had been made but warned much work remains.
"Ultimately, where this should lead is to a meeting between the three leaders, between Zelensky, Putin and President Trump, where we can finalize," Rubio said.
Putin, speaking alongside Trump after their nearly three-hour talks, appeared to confirm a willingness to discuss Kyiv’s security: "I agree with President Trump. He said today that Ukraine’s security must be ensured by all means. Of course, we are ready to work on this."
According to Witkoff, Russia also agreed to legislate against any further land grabs after a peace settlement.
Rubio suggested Washington might commit formally to security guarantees for Ukraine – a step many of Trump’s supporters have resisted
"It tells you how badly he [Trump ed.] wants peace, how much he values peace, that he would be willing to make a concession like that," he told Fox News.
Talks in Washington on Monday will bring together Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to explore possible terms of a peace deal.
Issues still under discussion include Ukraine’s borders, military alliances and security assurances.
Rubio cautioned that neither side is likely to secure all of its demands.
"If one side gets everything they want, that’s not a peace deal. It’s called surrender,” he said.
Rubio also warned in a separate ABC interview that if a deal to end the war could not be reached, existing US sanctions on Russia would remain in place, and additional ones could be imposed.
Witkoff’s comments come ahead of a meeting in Washington on Monday, where senior European Union officials and several heads of government will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
(ał)
Source: Reuters