In a significant development following the August 15, 2025, summit in Alaska, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on August 17 that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the United States and European allies to provide Ukraine with security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5 collective defense principle. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Witkoff described the concession as a “game-changing” step toward ending the 3.5-year war, marking the first time Putin has endorsed such protections.

The agreement, discussed during President Donald Trump’s meeting with Putin, would enable the U.S. and Europe to offer Ukraine robust security assurances outside NATO’s framework, ensuring collective defense against future Russian aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels, welcomed Trump’s commitment to these Article 5-like guarantees, emphasizing the European Union’s readiness to contribute.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for U.S. support but stressed that details remain unclear, particularly regarding the roles of America, Europe, and the EU. “We need security to work in practice like Article 5, and we consider EU accession part of the guarantees,” he said, highlighting the need for concrete mechanisms to ensure Ukraine’s long-term safety.

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Witkoff noted that Russia also committed to a legislative promise not to pursue additional Ukrainian territory, a significant shift in Moscow’s stance. He defended Trump’s pivot from pushing for an immediate ceasefire to focusing on a broader peace deal, citing substantial progress in negotiations. “We covered almost all issues necessary for a peace deal,” Witkoff said, adding that Russia showed signs of moderating its approach.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” cautioned that a final peace agreement remains elusive. “We’re not at the precipice of a peace deal,” Rubio said, acknowledging “big areas of disagreement” despite identifying potential points of consensus. He emphasized that Trump had warned of “additional consequences” if Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire, but stressed that any truce requires Ukraine’s involvement. “The way to avoid consequences is peace, the end of hostilities,” Rubio added.

The Alaska summit, while yielding no immediate ceasefire, has set the stage for further talks, with Zelenskyy scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on August 18, joined by European leaders like Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Giorgia Meloni. The discussions signal a potential breakthrough in securing Ukraine’s sovereignty, though Kyiv remains cautious, insisting that any deal must include Ukraine and reject territorial concessions. As diplomatic efforts intensify, the focus on robust, NATO-style security guarantees offers hope for a lasting resolution to the conflict.

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