Putin agrees to offer “strong” security guarantees to Ukraine

“Strong” security guarantees in a preliminary agreement

Alaska meeting paves the way for a Russia–Ukraine peace deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly agreed to provide Ukraine with “strong” security guarantees as part of a future peace deal, according to Steve Witkoff, special envoy of the White House, on Sunday.

Witkoff, who accompanied President Donald Trump in his three-hour meeting with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, told CNN that a commitment was reached “representing a radical shift” in Russia’s position.

These guarantees were described in language “similar to NATO’s Article 5,” which establishes mutual defense against external aggression, though without formally integrating Ukraine into the alliance.

As reported by EFE.

Putin agrees to offer “strong” security guarantees to Ukraine

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According to the U.S. negotiator, Putin committed not to expand military operations beyond Ukraine or into other European countries, within the framework of a possible agreement to end the war that began in 2022.

Witkoff also indicated that Russia showed willingness to soften its demands regarding recognition of occupied territories.

“The Russians made some concessions at the table regarding the five regions,” he said, referring to the areas Moscow seeks to consolidate as its own.

Although no concrete details were given, this shift was described as a sign of moderation by the Kremlin.

Next meeting with Zelenskyy in Washington

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The envoy emphasized that these issues will be at the center of Monday’s meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

Several European leaders, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will also attend.

According to Witkoff, the expectation is to explore mechanisms to turn these security guarantees into verifiable commitments and eventually into a formal peace agreement.

Trump, for his part, posted on Truth Social: “BIG PROGRESS WITH RUSSIA,” without providing further details.

Trump’s strategic shift

The U.S. president has shifted from initially proposing a ceasefire to directly prioritizing a comprehensive peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff explained that the change stems from Trump’s perception of significant progress on key elements of the negotiation.

Although the envoy’s assessment describes a more favorable scenario, he acknowledged that the Russian gestures “do not mean it is enough” to seal a definitive deal.

Even so, the signal from Moscow is interpreted as the first tangible indication that Putin may be willing to moderate his demands to end the conflict.

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