Senior Trump administration officials said Monday that U.S.-led negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine are nearing completion, with what they described as substantial progress on most major issues and new signs of flexibility from Moscow on Ukraine’s future alignment with Europe.
According to U.S. officials, roughly 90 percent of the outstanding elements of a proposed peace agreement have been resolved following several days of talks in Berlin involving American, Ukrainian, and European representatives. U.S. negotiators met for several hours with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday and again on Monday, and both sides described the discussions as productive.
The U.S. delegation is being led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. Administration officials reiterated that Ukrainian membership in NATO is not part of the U.S.-brokered framework, a position the Trump team has consistently maintained. Instead, the proposed deal centers on security guarantees that U.S. officials describe as comparable in effect to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause.
A U.S. official told reporters that the American proposal would provide “Article 5-like” security guarantees backed by “very, very strong” military capabilities intended to deter future Russian aggression. The official said these guarantees are “something that President Trump believes he can get Russia to accept,” while also warning that the offer is time-limited. “Those guarantees will not be on the table forever. Those guarantees are on the table right now,” the official said.
One of the most notable developments, U.S. officials said, is Russia’s apparent openness to Ukraine joining the European Union. Moscow’s acceptance of EU membership would mark a major shift, given the economic and political implications of such a move. As one U.S. official put it, “Russia, you know, in a final deal, has indicated they were open to Ukraine joining the EU, which would be, I think, the biggest expansion of the Euro free zone since the Berlin Wall.”
Despite the reported progress, key issues remain unresolved, particularly over territory. U.S. officials declined to provide details on whether Ukraine would be required to cede additional territory beyond areas currently occupied by Russia, or whether there is a firm deadline for Moscow to respond to the U.S. proposal. They also did not specify how the security guarantees would be implemented in practice.
Territorial questions have become more sensitive in recent days as multiple news outlets reported that U.S. officials are pressing Ukraine to withdraw from the Donetsk region as part of any deal. At the same time, Russian officials have made clear that territorial concessions to Ukraine are unacceptable. Russian security official Yuri Ushakov said Sunday on Kremlin television that Moscow would strongly oppose any amendments that conflict with its stated position, adding that there would be provisions “completely unacceptable for us, including on territorial issues.”
U.S. officials acknowledged that resolving territorial disputes is one of the most difficult aspects of the negotiations. They said American and European officials have been discussing potential frameworks, including the creation of an “economic free zone” in war-damaged areas. Under that concept, economic arrangements would be addressed first, leaving questions of sovereignty to be settled by the parties later. “Ultimately, if we can get that defined, then it will really be up to the parties to work out the final issues of sovereignty and to see if there’s deal that can be done between them,” a U.S. official said.
European governments have played a significant role in the talks, according to U.S. officials, who cited close coordination with Germany, the United Kingdom, and France as part of what they described as a “full U.S.-Europe effort” to end the war. European participants, officials said, have expressed appreciation that President Trump is open to meaningful security guarantees for Ukraine, even while ruling out NATO membership.
Behind the scenes, the negotiations have reportedly been tense. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the U.S. delegation has been unwilling to compromise on its draft 20-point peace plan, underscoring the pressure being placed on both Kyiv and Moscow to accept the framework largely as written.
Beyond security and territorial issues, the proposed agreement includes a postwar economic strategy aimed at rebuilding Ukraine. Trump administration officials have also suggested that reintegrating Russia into the global economy could serve as a long-term incentive to prevent renewed conflict. “We’ve seen over time, there’s no such thing as permanent allies or permanent enemies,” a U.S. official said. “And maybe, if we create the right framework in this agreement, then there could be a new pathway forward where Europe and Russia can finally have an arrangement and understanding that can lead to a more peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.”
The Berlin talks come as President Trump has publicly expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that the president is “extremely frustrated with both sides of this war” and has little patience for discussions that do not lead to concrete outcomes.
Whether the remaining gaps—particularly on territory—can be bridged remains uncertain. But U.S. officials said Monday that the window for a comprehensive deal is open now, and they signaled that the current security guarantees and economic incentives are intended to push the parties toward a final decision rather than prolong talks indefinitely.
.png)
%20(1).jpg)
