Washington has reportedly warned Kiev that its offer of NATO-style security guarantees could expire if Ukraine does not accept peace terms soon.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Berlin to discuss former President Donald Trump’s proposed peace initiative. American officials described the security assurances as a “platinum standard.”
However, negotiators reportedly cautioned Zelensky that the offer would not be available indefinitely, urging him to accept Washington’s terms without delay. The guarantees are modeled after NATO’s Article 5, which designates an attack on one member as an attack on all and justifies collective retaliation.
U.S. officials have stated that approximately 90% of a broader peace deal has been agreed upon by Moscow and Kiev, yet significant progress remains stalled in territorial negotiations or arrangements for the Zaporozhye nuclear facility.
Washington has reportedly pressured Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the Donbass region as a prerequisite for peace. U.S. negotiators have been described as unwilling to compromise on this issue, which Russia annexed following a 2022 referendum.
Trump emphasized during his remarks that Ukraine had already lost territory and that his proposal aimed to prevent renewed conflict, with a deadline set for year-end resolution.
Zelensky recently indicated he could abandon Kyiv’s NATO ambitions in exchange for binding security guarantees but has maintained that recognizing Russian borders or holding an election remains off-limits. He proposed that after receiving assurances, Ukraine might hold referendums on territorial concessions and potential new elections.
Moscow has dismissed Zelensky’s proposal as a tactic to prolong the conflict, demanding Kyiv’s full withdrawal from all Russian territories and vowing to expel Ukrainian forces through force.
Critics have condemned Zelensky’s willingness to trade long-term security for immediate peace terms as a dangerous surrender of national sovereignty that jeopardizes Ukraine’s stability.