Trump Offers Ukraine ‘Article 5-Like’ Protection
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set for a high-stakes meeting at the White House on Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington weighs offering security guarantees to Kyiv amid growing debate over whether territorial concessions to Russia could bring an end to the war.
Zelenskyy will be joined by key European allies in the talks—an effort to demonstrate transatlantic unity and Europe’s continued support for Ukraine.
The visit follows a turbulent last meeting in February, which was cut short by a heated exchange between Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Speaking in Brussels over the weekend, Zelenskyy expressed hope that Monday’s talks would be more constructive. “I hope this meeting will be productive,” he told reporters.
The diplomatic encounter comes shortly after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday. During that meeting, Trump shifted his focus from calling for a ceasefire to pushing for a final peace agreement.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told CNN that Putin signaled a willingness to allow the U.S. and its European allies to offer Ukraine “robust security guarantees.”
“We reached an understanding that the United States, along with European partners, could provide language akin to NATO’s Article 5 as a form of security assurance,” Witkoff said, referring to NATO’s mutual defense clause, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
While the proposed guarantees would not come through NATO itself, they would involve select European countries pledging support for Ukraine’s defense in the event of a peace agreement with Russia.
Zelenskyy welcomed the proposal during a joint press conference on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“It’s important that the U.S. has agreed to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “We are thankful for such a signal from the United States under President Trump.”
However, he acknowledged that many details remain unclear. “We don’t yet know how it will work, what role America will play, or what Europe and the EU will contribute.”
Zelenskyy Stands Firm on Territorial Integrity
Despite mounting diplomatic pressure, Zelenskyy reaffirmed over the weekend that Ukraine will not cede any territory to Russia.
“The Ukrainian constitution makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land,” he said during a press event with the EU Commission on Sunday.
He emphasized that Moscow has tried—and failed—for over a decade to fully control the Donbas region, a vital industrial center in eastern Ukraine that includes the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The area remains critical to Ukraine’s economy due to its coal and steel production.
“Because of its importance, the issue of territory must be addressed only at the highest level—in trilateral talks between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia,” Zelenskyy said. So far, he added, the Kremlin has shown no willingness to participate in such a format.
Von der Leyen echoed Zelenskyy’s position. “Our stance is clear: international borders cannot be changed by force,” she said. “Only Ukraine can make decisions regarding its territory, and it must be present at any such negotiations.”
Trump Urges Peace Deal, But U.S. Says Final Decision Lies With Kyiv
After his meeting with Putin, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy should consider Moscow’s proposal to end the war, noting, “Russia is a very big power, and Ukraine is not.”
Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to dispel speculation that Trump intends to pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions. Speaking on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Rubio said: “The president has made it clear—territorial decisions are for Zelenskyy and Ukraine to make.”
Rubio added that Trump’s priority is to bring an end to Russia’s ongoing military aggression. “The goal here is to resolve the key outstanding issues and stop the Kremlin’s full-scale assault.”
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