Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The proposal, outlined by U.S. officials on Monday, is framed as a major step toward reassuring Kyiv and its allies, while also underscoring a sense of urgency around reaching an agreement.
The ongoing negotiations about a possible ceasefire or peace in Ukraine keeps making headlines – unfortunately most of the time, the “news” is the lack of progress.
However, yesterday a possible gamechanger emerged from the high-stakes negotiations, as the U.S. has now put forward its most far-reaching security commitment yet to Ukraine as talks aimed at ending the war with Russia intensify in Europe.
U.S. officials said the administration is offering security guarantees comparable to NATO’s Article 5 protections, even though Ukraine would not formally join the alliance, several outlets, including Reuters and Politico reports
European reaction
European leaders have long worried that Ukraine could be pressed into accepting unfavorable terms. Several now say the latest U.S. position represents meaningful progress.
“The legal and material security guarantees that the U.S. has put on the table here in Berlin are remarkable,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after the talks.
Merz and leaders from multiple European countries and the EU issued a joint statement welcoming “significant progress” and reaffirming commitments to deter future Russian aggression, including through a European-led multinational force backed by the United States.
Offer with a deadline
At the same time, officials made clear the offer is not open-ended.
“The basis of that agreement is basically to have really, really strong guarantees, Article 5-like,” a senior U.S. official said.
“Those guarantees will not be on the table forever. Those guarantees are on the table right now if there’s a conclusion that’s reached in a good way.”
How will Russia react?
Russia has previously supported the idea of security guarantees as part af a deal-
However, the Kremlin demands that the security guarantees should cover both Ukraine and Russia, if the Kremlin were to accept them.
Russia has not yet commented on the time-limited offer from the U.S., but in an interview released by ABC Monday the 15th, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia told ABC News, that he believes Russia and Ukraine are on the verge” of a diplomatic solution to the soon-to-be 4-year long war.
Sources: Reuters, AP, Politico, statements from U.S. and European officials
