Germany Focus on security guarantees ahead of summit in Washington
Following the Alaska summit with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump wants to talk to Ukraine and European partners on Monday about ways to end the Russian war of aggression. According to the German government, this will include "security guarantees, territorial issues and continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression".
17.08.2025, 20:20
SDA
The scenario of a NATO-like pledge of support from the USA and European states to Ukraine will come into focus. According to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Russia has agreed that the USA and the European states will grant Ukraine security guarantees similar to Article 5 of the NATO treaty. This stipulates that the alliance partners can count on the support of the allies in the event of an attack and that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi will be accompanied to Washington by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Other heads of state and government from Europe have also announced their attendance.
Article 5 of the NATO treaty as a model
Selensky coordinated with the European allies before the summit in Washington. In Brussels, he said that security guarantees based on the NATO model were essential for ending the war. The guarantee must function like NATO's Article 5.
Von der Leyen underlined this goal and emphasized that the USA was also prepared to do so. "We welcome President (Donald) Trump's willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine," said the German politician. The "coalition of the willing", including the EU, is ready to do its part.
In the event of an attack, the parties to the Western defense alliance NATO are obliged to provide mutual assistance. Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulates that "an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered as an attack against them all". The NATO Council declares a state of alliance, which has only been declared once before: after the terrorist attacks in the USA on September 11, 2001.
Russia's attack on Ukraine was not such an alliance case, as the country is not a member of NATO. Selenskyj said on Sunday that Ukraine's EU membership was also a guarantee for the country's security.
USA reports alleged concession by Russia
According to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Russia has agreed to the USA and European allies giving Ukraine Nato-like security guarantees. "We were able to win the following concession: That the United States can provide Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to join NATO," Witkoff told CNN.
For Kremlin leader Putin, Ukraine's accession to Nato was not open to discussion. "We were able to get around that, so to speak, and reach an agreement that the United States could provide protection similar to that in Article 5." The Russians had agreed to such a scenario for the first time.
However, possible security guarantees for Ukraine were already discussed during the negotiations between Kiev and Moscow in Istanbul in 2022. According to all that is known, Russia itself wanted to be one of the guarantors. It also demanded a veto right against the intervention of other guarantor powers in the event of a conflict. This was not acceptable either to Ukraine or to potential Western guarantor powers. It is one of the reasons why the negotiations were abandoned.
Ceasefire or not?
The USA is hoping for a quick agreement between Ukraine and Russia - however, the positions of the warring parties are still irreconcilable. For example, Russia is demanding that Ukraine relinquish a large number of territories, which Zelenskyi categorically rejects.
After his meeting with Putin, Trump backed away from his central demand for a ceasefire as a condition for peace negotiations. Instead, he wants to talk directly about a peace agreement - in line with Putin's wishes. Chancellor Merz subsequently made it clear that he also considers peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to be justifiable without a prior ceasefire - provided that an agreement is reached quickly. "If this succeeds, it will be worth more than a ceasefire that may last for weeks - without further progress in the political, diplomatic efforts."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Sunday that a ceasefire was not off the table. However, the overarching goal is to conclude a "comprehensive peace agreement", he told US broadcaster NBC News. "I think that's the best way to end the war."
New fiasco in the White House to be avoided
The meeting in Washington is likely to play a key role in determining how efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine progress. Much is at stake - especially after the Alaska summit, at which Trump de facto rehabilitated Putin on the world stage.
In February, a meeting between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office escalated in front of the cameras and the Ukrainian had to leave without having achieved anything. As a result, the USA temporarily suspended its military aid, which is extremely important for Ukraine. A repetition of such scenes should be avoided by joining forces.
Tripartite summit possibly on Friday
There is a possibility that Zelensky's visit to Trump could be followed by a three-way meeting with Putin. Chancellor Merz also spoke of this possibility, but according to him there is still no time or place for it. According to an unconfirmed "Axios" report, the US President let his European interlocutors know that he was aiming for such a meeting on Friday.
