The United States has presented a historic security proposal for Ukraine, offering NATO Article Five–level protection without formal membership after lengthy talks in Berlin with President Volodymyr Zelensky. U.S. officials say the security proposal includes strong legal and military guarantees to deter future attacks and could reshape efforts to end the nearly four-year war with Russia, with President Donald Trump expected to personally press the deal with Ukrainian and European leaders.
A NATO-Like Security Proposal Without Formal Membership
The talks center on a security proposal modeled on NATO’s Article Five, which treats an attack on one ally as an attack on all. U.S. officials say this would mean the United States and European partners would respond together to any future assault on Ukraine.
Washington says this approach gives Ukraine NATO-level protection without formally bringing the country into the alliance. Trump has clearly ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership, but his administration says the security proposal offers the strongest protection package Ukraine has ever received.
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The plan rests on two key elements. First, the United States and European countries would provide clear legal guarantees that define how they would respond if Ukraine were attacked again. Second, Ukraine would maintain a strong and capable military under the security proposal, creating a powerful deterrent against renewed aggression.
After the Berlin meetings, U.S. officials said they reached a shared understanding that any ceasefire must rely on serious guarantees. European leaders agreed, saying earlier efforts failed because they lacked enforcement, and they said the security proposal is designed to prevent those past mistakes.
Security Proposal Comes With Pressure and a Firm Deadline
American officials emphasized that the security proposal does not remain open-ended. They said all sides can access the guarantees now, but the United States will not keep them on the table indefinitely. They issued this warning to urge all parties to act quickly while momentum exists.
Trump said the war should never have started but acknowledged that it did and now requires resolution. He noted that his administration has held numerous conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and believes they have made progress. U.S. officials added that they believe Russia could accept the security proposal, though Moscow has not confirmed this.
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European leaders involved in the talks said there is now a broad consensus that a ceasefire can only work if Ukraine receives strong backing from the United States and Europe together. Under the security proposal, individual countries may provide guarantees, but they would do so within a coordinated framework agreed upon jointly.
During the discussions, European officials also appealed to Russia to halt attacks on civilian targets, especially during the Christmas period. They highlighted recent strikes on hospitals, kindergartens, and energy infrastructure, saying such actions undermine trust and make negotiations harder.
Territory Remains the Hardest and Most Sensitive Issue
Even with movement on guarantees, the hardest issue remains territory. Russia continues to occupy large areas of Ukrainian land seized since the invasion. President Trump has previously suggested that Ukraine may have to give up some territory as part of a deal, a position Kyiv strongly rejects.
President Zelensky said territorial questions are complex but insisted that concessions are a non-issue for Ukraine. He stressed that dignity and sovereignty matter, and that Ukraine cannot accept demands to surrender land. Zelensky also said Ukraine views the United States as a strategic partner and does not see the security proposal as a set of U.S. demands.
To manage the divide, U.S. officials discussed possible interim ideas, including the creation of an economic free zone in contested areas. Under this concept, negotiators would postpone questions of final sovereignty, allowing stability and economic activity to continue while they negotiate. Officials keep this idea separate from the main security proposal, and they have not finalized it.
The Berlin talks were led by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, underscoring the importance Washington places on reaching an agreement. As discussions continue, the security proposal, its deadline, and unresolved territorial issues remain central to efforts aimed at stopping the war.