Europe is ready to lead a "multinational force" in Ukraine as part of a US proposal for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, European leaders have said, reports the British newspaper The Guardian.
In a statement, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and eight other European countries said that soldiers from the "coalition of the willing", with support from the United States (US), could "help rebuild Ukrainian forces, secure Ukrainian skies and support safer seas, including by operating inside Ukraine".
The proposal was part of a new package of security guarantees, backed by the White House, that could mark a breakthrough in efforts to reach a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev, US and European leaders said. But they added that significant differences remained over the future status of Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that he had "very long and very good" conversations with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as with European and NATO leaders, adding: "We had numerous conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and I think we're closer now than we've ever been, so we'll see what we can do."
Asked if he had recently spoken directly with Vladimir Putin, Trump replied: "Yes, I have," but did not provide any details.
However, Trump appeared to suggest that, in return for security guarantees, Ukraine would have to agree to cede to Russia parts of the eastern Donbas region that Kiev still holds - something Zelensky had previously ruled out, according to the Guardian.
"Well, they've already lost that territory, frankly," Trump said, responding to a question about what incentive Ukraine would have to give up the land.
Zelensky said that talks with Trump's envoys "were not easy" but had brought "real progress" on security guarantees. However, differences remained over the issue of territory.
"There has been enough dialogue on the territory and, frankly, I think we still have different positions," Zelensky told reporters.
Under the proposal, Ukraine would have Western support to maintain a standing army of 800.000 troops, the US would lead a "ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism" to provide early warning of any future attack, and European countries would also sign a "legally binding commitment, in accordance with national procedures, to take measures to restore peace and security in the event of a future armed attack." Europe would also support Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU).
According to two US officials familiar with the negotiations, the agreement would effectively provide Ukraine with "Article Five-like" guarantees, comparing them to the security guarantees NATO provides its allies against foreign attacks.
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The United States presented the new package this week in talks in Berlin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as senior diplomats and security officials from European allies. U.S. officials said they believed Russia would accept the security guarantees presented at the talks, which would represent a significant softening of the Kremlin's demands to limit the size of the Ukrainian military and oppose the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine.
The US delegation, led by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, said Zelensky and European leaders had responded positively to the White House's latest proposal for security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO allies, aimed at preventing Russia from relaunching an invasion if a peace deal is reached.
"I think the Ukrainians would tell you, as would the Europeans, that this is the most robust set of security protocols they've ever seen," said one U.S. official familiar with the negotiations. "It's a very, very strong package. I hope the Russians look at it and say to themselves, 'That's fine, because we have no intention (of starting a war again). We'll take them at their word."
US officials declined to provide specific details about what the security package would include and who would defend Ukraine if Russia resumed its invasion after the peace deal was reached. They confirmed that the US would not send troops to the ground in Ukraine as part of the deal.
Still, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at a press conference on Monday that he believed the two sides were the closest to a real peace process since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion in 2022.
"What the US has put on the table here in Berlin, in terms of legal and material guarantees, is really significant," Merz said during a joint press conference with Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president said he welcomed the "productive" talks, while Kiev's chief peace negotiator said "real progress" had been made in the second round of talks in Berlin.
Security guarantees are considered a key factor in a possible peace agreement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously said that the agreement between Russia and Ukraine would fail if it did not include "robust" security guarantees from the West.
"It's really important that we address this in detail. (Vladimir) Putin has shown time and time again that he will come back for more if he sees an opportunity," Starmer said.
US officials said on Monday they were still "developing ideas" about the future status of occupied Ukrainian territories under a peace deal, adding that they were considering making the areas a "free economic zone." However, they said significant differences remained over the control and status of the territories seized by Russia.
"Ultimately, if we can define that, then it will really be up to (Russia and Ukraine) to resolve the final sovereignty issues and see if an agreement can be reached between them," said one US official familiar with the talks.
The two sides also disagreed on the future operation of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is located in Ukraine but is under Russian control. US officials have said they want the two sides to split the electricity the plant produces "50/50". US negotiators claim to have resolved "90 percent" of the disputes between the Russian and Ukrainian sides.
Zelensky described the talks with the US side as "not easy" but said progress had been made. He said Russia was using its relentless strikes as leverage in the negotiations and stressed that no power plant in Ukraine had been spared from attacks.
Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, also gave an optimistic assessment of the talks.
"Over the past two days, Ukrainian-American negotiations have been constructive and productive, with real progress achieved," Umerov said.
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