U.S. Advances Near‑Article 5 Guarantees for Ukraine as Berlin Talks Narrow Differences

Overview

• A U.S. plan under negotiation would give Ukraine strong security guarantees likened to NATO’s Article 5, paired with robust deterrence through weaponry, according to an American official.
• Talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin spanned nearly eight hours over two days and were described by a U.S. official as very positive.
• President Donald Trump plans calls with Zelensky and European leaders today to try to move the process toward a final agreement, U.S. representatives said.
• U.S. officials say roughly 90% of issues have been settled, with the sovereignty of Russian‑occupied territories still the central sticking point.
• Reuters‑reported proposals include a Ukrainian troop pullback from Donetsk and discussion of a Donetsk economic zone, with BlackRock representatives present, while a dispute over an unspecified energy facility also remains; these points have not been confirmed by all parties.