Witkov: Putin agreed to US military guarantees in Ukraine
Al-Khamisa News Network - Gaza
Trump's envoy to the United States, Steve Witkoff, said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a summit with US President Donald Trump that the United States and its European allies could provide Ukraine with security guarantees similar to NATO's commitment to collective defense.
Witkov, who participated in Friday's talks at a military base in Alaska, said it was the first time the Russians had agreed to this, describing it as a "turning point."
He added that the United States might offer other countries a NATO-like defense under Article 5, a commitment to take action if any of them is attacked.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that upcoming talks would focus on drafting the outlines of the guarantees. However, he noted that it remains unclear whether Trump has fully committed to this step. Witkoff also noted that Russia has agreed to include in its law a commitment not to violate the sovereignty of European countries and not to claim additional territory from Ukraine after the peace agreement is signed.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said the substance of the guarantees is more important than their name, adding that Europe will present to the United States plans to bolster the Ukrainian army with training, equipment, and additional troops away from the front lines.
Among the issues expected to be raised at tomorrow's White House meeting is the issue of potential territorial concessions. According to European sources, Putin has made clear his interest in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Donbas. Zelensky rejected this request, asserting that any discussion must be based on current front lines, in accordance with the Ukrainian constitution, which prohibits territorial concessions.
This issue is expected to be a focus of Trump's talks with Zelensky and European leaders, who will arrive at the White House tomorrow to discuss ending the three-and-a-half-year-old war.
Witkoff and Rubio explained that Trump decided to move from a ceasefire to an effort to push for a comprehensive peace agreement after significant progress was made at the summit. However, Rubio emphasized that the road to an agreement is still long, and that the ceasefire would not have been possible without Ukraine's participation in the talks.
