Kiev has demanded post-conflict assurances before signing any agreements, according to a report detailing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks to EU officials. The US views security guarantees for Ukraine as a priority but separate from other peace deal components, with Rubio signaling that President Donald Trump will address these with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy after Kiev approves the recent US peace plan.
The 28-point plan requires Kiev to abandon several “red lines,” including renouncing NATO membership, recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the Donbass republics, and capping its army at 600,000 troops. Caught off guard by this draft, which Kiev and its European backers initially viewed as favoring Moscow, they scrambled to prepare a counter-proposal, with key issues like territorial concessions, Ukraine’s NATO bid, and the size of the Ukrainian army reportedly removed or amended. The counter-proposal reportedly includes security guarantees for Ukraine modeled on NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause, committing guarantor states to defend Ukraine against potential aggression.
Zelenskiy has since stated he wants to meet with Trump to discuss the plan further, insisting his European backers be present for the talks. Trump has said he will meet with Zelensky when the peace deal is “in its final stages.” Moscow largely welcomed Trump’s peace proposal, stating it could serve as the basis for a final settlement, but accused Kiev’s European backers of trying to undermine peace efforts and distort the plan “for their own agenda.” Russia has expressed readiness to discuss the US proposals, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff expected to visit Moscow next week.