US agrees to Ukraine security guarantees after days of intense negotiations

The United States has agreed to provide initial security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year war, with further talks expected this weekend, US officials said Monday after discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin.

Officials said talks involving President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, narrowed differences over the security guarantees Kyiv has insisted on, as well as Moscow’s demand that Ukraine concede territory in eastern Donbas. Trump joined a dinner with negotiators and European leaders Monday evening, with more discussions planned in Miami or elsewhere in the United States.

The proposed US guarantees would include a European-led multinational force operating inside Ukraine , backed by Washington, helping rebuild and train Ukrainian forces, secure its skies, and support safer maritime routes. Ukrainian forces would remain at a peacetime strength of about 800,000 personnel . Officials described the arrangements as “Article 5-like,” signalling that attacks on Ukraine could trigger a coordinated US and allied response, similar to NATO’s collective defence, though Ukraine would remain outside NATO.

US officials stressed that the guarantees would require Congressional approval, giving them legal and political credibility and ensuring funding for troop deployments and military assistance.

European leaders in Berlin welcomed the initiative, describing it as a “far-reaching, substantial agreement” that both Europe and the US are jointly prepared to implement.

However, major obstacles remain. Ukraine continues to reject any territorial concessions in the Donbas region, while Russia insists that Ukrainian forces withdraw from areas it claims. NATO membership also remains a sticking point: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine could forgo joining the alliance if legally binding security guarantees are provided by the United States , while Russia continues to view NATO as a threat.

“I think we’re closer now than we have been, ever,” Trump told reporters at an unrelated White House event. “We’re having tremendous support from European leaders. They want it to end, also.”

The risk of continued military escalation also threatens the peace process. Russia launched 153 drones overnight from Sunday to Monday, of which 133 were neutralised by Ukraine, while 17 hit their targets. Russia reported shooting down 130 Ukrainian drones, including 18 over Moscow, prompting temporary airport closures. Such attacks could erode trust and delay implementation of any agreement.

Disagreements over the details of enforcement, who controls the multinational force, when and how a response is triggered, and funding could further undermine the plan. US officials said there is consensus on about 90% of the US-drafted peace plan , but Ukraine and Russia still differ over territorial settlements and troop arrangements.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said predicting a timeline for a deal is “thankless,” though he described President Putin as open to serious peace and decisions .