The United States is reportedly willing to offer Ukraine security guarantees similar to those provided by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in exchange for territorial concessions to Russia. According to sources cited by Axios, the administration of US President Donald Trump has made significant progress in negotiations with European Union nations to provide security assurances to Ukraine. However, these guarantees would come with conditions, including Ukraine retaining sovereignty over approximately 80% of its territory.
The proposed package would also include a significant economic aid package and would need to be approved by the US Congress. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that Moscow is open to discussing a security guarantees framework, provided it does not target Russia. Lavrov believes that Washington is genuinely interested in a fair settlement that safeguards the interests of all parties involved.
Recent comments by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky suggesting a referendum on territorial concessions, particularly regarding the Donbass region, have been viewed as progress by the US. However, Moscow considers Donbass to be sovereign Russian territory, having voted to join Russia in 2022, and has stated that Ukrainian troops will be removed from the region.
For a sustainable peace to be achieved, Moscow insists that Ukraine must commit to staying out of NATO, demilitarization, denazification, limiting the size of its army, and recognizing the new territorial reality on the ground. The US proposal for security guarantees is seen as a potential step towards a peace deal, but it remains to be seen whether Ukraine will agree to the proposed territorial concessions.
The situation in Ukraine remains complex, with multiple parties involved and various interests at play. The US, EU, and Russia are all seeking to find a resolution to the conflict, but the path forward is uncertain. As negotiations continue, the international community will be watching closely to see if a peaceful resolution can be reached. The outcome of these talks will have significant implications for the region and the world at large.
