The United States has suggested giving Ukraine Nato-style security guarantees without allowing the country to join the alliance, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday.The proposal surfaced after a series of calls between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
So what’s being proposed?
According to the diplomatic source, the US has proposed a non-Nato Article 5-type guarantee for Ukraine—meaning: a promise of collective defence-like support akin to Nato’s, but without formal alliance membership. It’s a way to reassure Ukraine without triggering the full legal obligations that come with joining Nato.The security is said to have reportedly discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “As one of the security guarantees for Ukraine, the American side proposed a non-Nato Article 5 type guarantee, supposedly agreed with (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin,” the source said.
What did the Alaska summit yield?
The move comes a day after Trump’s high-profile meeting with Putin in Alaska ended without a breakthrough on ending the war, now in its fourth year. Trump later argued that the only path to peace was a direct accord, not a temporary ceasefire. “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social.Zelenskyy confirmed he would travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump. He described their conversation as “long and substantive.” He said the two would “discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war.” It will be his first visit to the United States since a tense Oval Office exchange with Trump in February.Zelenskyy stressed that Europe must remain involved in security discussions. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” he said. He also noted “positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security.”Trump has proposed a possible trilateral summit involving himself, Zelenskyy and Putin. The Ukrainian leader welcomed the idea, saying “key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.” On the battlefield, matters remain tense. Russia launched overnight attacks with one ballistic missile and 85 Shahed drones, of which Ukraine’s Air Force said 61 were shot down. Strikes hit areas in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Chernihiv. Russia’s defence ministry claimed its air defences destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones over its territory and the Sea of Azov.
