Ukraine Peace: US Offers NATO-Level Security Guarantees

Ukraine would be offered security guarantees comparable to those provided to NATO members under a U.S.-led peace deal aimed at ending Russia’s war, White House officials said. Following extensive talks in Berlin between Kyiv and Washington, officials added that approximately 90 percent of issues between Moscow and Kyiv have been resolved.

Ukraine Says ‘Real Progress’ Made in Talks

Kyiv’s negotiator Rustem Umerov wrote on social media that the discussions in Berlin were “constructive and productive,” and “real progress” had been achieved. He added that he hopes an agreement bringing the countries closer to peace will be reached by the end of the day, without providing specific details on the talks regarding difficult issues such as territorial concessions and security guarantees.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to attend a dinner Monday night in Berlin, with Trump expected to call into the event. Working groups are anticipated to meet in the United States during the coming weekend, potentially in Miami, officials said.

Russia has indicated openness to Ukraine joining the European Union, but issues surrounding territory remain unresolved. Ukraine has consistently rejected Russian demands for territorial concessions in its east as part of any peace agreement.

President Trump has strongly advocated for an end to the war, but an initial 28-point plan presented last month was viewed as heavily favoring Moscow by both Kyiv and its European allies. Ukraine has since submitted counter-proposals and President Zelenskyy stated Sunday his country is ready to compromise on its desired NATO membership, provided it receives solid security guarantees in return.

Negotiations ‘have never been as serious as they are now’

According to officials briefed on the U.S.-Ukrainian talks, American negotiators are still seeking Ukraine to cede control of the eastern Donbas region. Moscow currently controls almost all of Lugansk and about 80 percent of the Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

“It’s a bit striking that the Americans are taking the Russians’ position on this issue,” one official added.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed cautious optimism about the days of diplomacy, while also voicing concerns about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would withdraw from his demands. “I believe the negotiations have never been as serious as they are now. They are being conducted very intensively,” Wadephul said. “But whether it will be successful, we won’t know until the end of the week.”

Ukraine Strikes Russian Submarine

As the possibility of a breakthrough emerged, Ukraine’s domestic security service announced Monday that it had inflicted critical damage to a Russian submarine. The SBU stated that Ukrainian forces struck the submarine at the port of Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s largest such facilities on the Black Sea, using Sea Baby drones.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia is expecting the United States to “provide us with the concept that is being discussed in Berlin today.” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated Sunday, “I think the contribution of both Ukrainians and Europeans to these documents is unlikely to be constructive, that’s the problem.”