The United States has proposed offering Ukraine NATO-style security guarantees as part of ongoing discussions aimed at ending the Russia–Ukraine war, according to officials familiar with the talks. The proposal comes amid cautious optimism from US and European representatives about progress in negotiations, although no agreement has yet been reached on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The unprecedented offer was made during a meeting in Berlin between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and envoys of US President Donald Trump. Officials warned, however, that the window for accepting the proposal would not remain open indefinitely.
European leaders have expressed hope that the deadliest conflict on the continent since World War II could be approaching a turning point. So far, Moscow has not issued a positive response to the outcomes of the Berlin meeting.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump said the United States was actively trying to bring the war to an end. He confirmed that he had joined a dinner of senior officials involved in the Berlin talks via phone. Trump also said he had spoken multiple times with Russian President Vladimir Putin and believed that the sides were closer to a breakthrough than ever before.
European leaders welcomed what they described as a shift in Washington’s stance on security guarantees for Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who hosted the Berlin talks, wrote on X that for the first time since the war began, a ceasefire no longer seemed like a distant dream.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the discussions marked a turning point, noting that US representatives clearly conveyed Washington’s readiness to engage in Ukraine’s security in a way that would leave Russia in no doubt that any renewed attack would trigger a military response.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the security guarantees had become clearer and more credible, calling them a crucial step toward sustainable peace. However, he cautioned that many complex issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding territory and whether Russia genuinely seeks peace.
Following the talks, President Zelenskyy warned that if Moscow rejected the proposals discussed by Kyiv, Washington, and European leaders, he would urge the United States to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and provide Ukraine with additional weapons, including longer-range systems.
In comments to journalists via WhatsApp, Zelenskyy reiterated that if President Putin rejected all proposals, increased US sanctions and expanded military support for Ukraine should follow.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the United States was pressuring Ukraine to consider withdrawing forces from parts of the eastern Donetsk region—a move that could spark strong domestic backlash. Zelenskyy, who has previously described territorial concessions as “painful,” reaffirmed after the talks that Ukraine would not legally or effectively recognize the Donbas region as part of Russia.
US officials told reporters on a conference call that agreement had been reached on roughly 90 percent of the issues under discussion. While longstanding territorial disputes remain, they said multiple solutions were being explored to bridge remaining differences.
Ukraine has consistently maintained that it will not cede any territory to Russia. Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has occupied nearly 20 percent of Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions.
A European official briefed on the talks said Russia has yet to soften its demands. While the atmosphere is positive, the official added, achieving consensus on the core issues will still take time.
