US Agrees to Provide Security Guarantees to Ukraine in Ongoing Peace Talks

The Hindu
The Hindu
17h ago
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Washington agreed to offer security guarantees to Ukraine in peace talks, involving a European-led force supported by the US, to address security and territorial disputes.
US Agrees to Provide Security Guarantees to Ukraine in Ongoing Peace Talks
A What happened
US officials disclosed that Washington has agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in peace talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict with Russia. European leaders and US envoys, including representatives from the Trump administration, have concentrated negotiations on security guarantees resembling NATO's Article 5 collective defense. A European-led multinational force supported by the US is proposed to safeguard Ukraine, rebuild its forces, and secure its skies and seas. While consensus covers most of the peace plan, key issues remain on territory and NATO membership. Ukraine is prepared to drop NATO membership in exchange for legally binding security assurances, but prefers full accession. Russia demands territorial concessions in Donbas and rejects NATO troops on Ukrainian soil. These negotiations, with US congressional involvement expected, could reshape security architecture in Eastern Europe.

Key insights

  • 1

    Shift Toward Formalized Security Guarantees Outside NATO: The US proposing an 'Article 5-like' security guarantee for Ukraine indicates a novel security framework that stops short of full NATO membership but still provides collective defense assurances.

  • 2

    European-Led Multinational Force Reflects Shared Responsibility: Europe's commitment to lead a multinational force inside Ukraine marks a notable shift toward active European security roles, supported but not dominated by the US.

  • 3

    Territorial Concessions Remain a Key Obstacle: Persistent disagreements over Ukrainian territorial integrity, especially in the Donbas region, highlight the enduring complexity and high stakes of any peace settlement.

Takeaways

The emerging US-European security framework for Ukraine in peace talks suggests a middle path between full NATO membership and no guarantees, balancing deterrence and geopolitical risks amid unresolved territorial disputes.

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