US pushes Article-5-like guarantees for Ukraine, leaves troop deployment to Europe

According to an extensive report by The Guardian, European leaders have signalled readiness to lead a multinational military presence in Ukraine as part of a US-backed proposal aimed at securing a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. The plan, described by officials as the most far-reaching security package discussed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, would stop short of deploying US combat troops on Ukrainian soil but would involve significant European military engagement and US strategic oversight.

Leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and eight other European countries said a “coalition of the willing” could deploy forces inside Ukraine to assist with regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces, securing its airspace, and ensuring maritime safety, including operations within Ukrainian territory. This deployment would be backed by the United States, though Washington has explicitly ruled out placing American troops on the ground. US officials confirmed to The Guardian that “boots on the ground” by US forces would not be part of any final deal.

Instead, the US would take a central role in leading a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, designed to provide early warning of any renewed Russian attack. European countries, meanwhile, would commit—through legally binding agreements subject to national procedures—to act in the event of future aggression against Ukraine.

Two US officials briefed on the talks described these guarantees as effectively “article five-like,” drawing a parallel with NATO’s collective defence clause, despite Ukraine not being a NATO member.

The proposal was presented during high-level talks in Berlin involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, senior European officials, and a US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to US officials cited by The Guardian, Russia is believed to be open to accepting these security guarantees, a notable shift from earlier Kremlin demands that Ukraine’s army be restricted in size and that NATO-linked forces be barred from operating in the country.

Under the plan, Ukraine would retain western backing to maintain a standing army of up to 800,000 troops, while Europe would also support Kyiv’s bid for European Union membership. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the package of legal and material guarantees presented by the US was “really considerable,” adding that the sides were closer to a real peace process than at any point since 2022.

Nonetheless, major political obstacles remain. US President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine may have to concede territory in the eastern Donbas region, comments that Zelenskyy has previously rejected. Zelenskyy acknowledged that talks with US envoys were “not easy,” particularly on territorial issues, even as he confirmed progress on security guarantees. US officials said discussions were ongoing about freezing the frontline and potentially designating occupied areas as an economic free zone.

Crucially, while the plan represents a significant deepening of Western security commitments to Ukraine, The Guardian notes that Washington’s refusal to deploy troops underscores the administration’s effort to deter Russia while avoiding direct military confrontation. The burden of any physical military presence inside Ukraine would rest with European allies, marking a decisive shift toward Europe assuming greater responsibility for regional security.

European leaders warned that the outcome of these negotiations would shape continental security for decades, while US officials acknowledged that, despite claims of “90%” agreement, sovereignty, territory, and nuclear infrastructure remain unresolved.

By Tamilla Hasanova