Steve Witkoff Details Game-Changing Security Guarantees for Ukraine in Alaskan Summit with Putin

During a summit between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. diplomat Steve Witkoff in Alaska, significant strides were made towards a potential peace agreement with Ukraine. Witkoff revealed on Sunday that Putin had agreed to robust security guarantees as part of any future accord.

These guarantees would involve collective defense for Ukraine by the United States and Europe should Russia attempt another invasion. Moreover, Russia has pledged legislative enshrinement of a promise not to invade Ukraine or any European country in any forthcoming peace plan. However, these provisions are yet to be mentioned in Russian accounts of the summit.

Witkoff provided the most comprehensive account yet of what was discussed during the three-hour closed-door meeting. The parties will reconvene at the White House on Monday, where President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and several European leaders to delve deeper into the matter.

Despite the progress made, many questions remain about Putin’s commitment to a deal, his past record of violating peace agreements, and what concessions Trump is willing to make to prevent another invasion of Ukraine.

Before the meeting, Trump had expressed disappointment if a ceasefire wasn’t reached and threatened severe consequences on Russia if Putin didn’t end the fighting. However, upon departure, Trump stated he was no longer aiming for an immediate ceasefire and that sanctions were no longer a priority following the talks.

Witkoff explained that significant progress during the summit led Trump to shift his focus from an immediate ceasefire towards advancing a larger peace agreement. “We made so much progress at this meeting with regard to all the other ingredients necessary for a peace deal that we, President Trump, pivoted to that place,” Witkoff said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more measured assessment, stating that while progress was made in identifying potential areas of agreement, there remain significant differences. “We are still a long way off from a peace agreement,” Rubio said.

Rubio also noted that any agreement to end the war would disappoint both sides. He elaborated that compromises would be necessary on both sides for a resolution.

The agreements Witkoff described will be central to Monday’s discussions between Trump and Zelensky. A large delegation of European leaders, including the presidents of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO, will accompany Zelensky for the talks.

European leaders are urging Trump to impose tough economic sanctions on Russia, but Rubio warned such measures could impede progress towards a peace deal. “The minute he takes those steps, all talks stop,” Rubio said.

A breakout session during Monday’s discussions at the White House will explore security guarantees for Ukraine that would prevent future invasions once a peace agreement is in place. Zelensky and European leaders have emphasized such assurances are essential to any peace accord.

Witkoff explained that the clause agreed upon by Russia—akin to NATO’s “Article 5” agreement that an attack against one country is an attack against all—was a compromise on Russia’s insistence that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO. He described it as the “first time we had ever heard the Russians agree” to such a provision being included in a peace deal.

The details of what the U.S. would contribute, versus Europe, remain unclear. Trump has previously stated that American troops will not be deployed in Ukraine, and he has suggested that European nations should take the lead in protecting it.

Some officials believe a robust security infrastructure for Ukraine could facilitate Zelensky’s acceptance of some Russian land concessions as part of a peace deal. Putin has not abandoned his maximalist demands, including Ukraine relinquishing control of the entire Donbas region, where Russia currently occupies significant territory.

However, Witkoff indicated that Putin made some concessions on his land requirements during the summit, suggesting that land swapping could occur at the current frontlines of the war rather than the administrative boundaries of some of the regions in question. This issue will be discussed further with Zelensky on Monday, and Witkoff expressed optimism about reaching decisions immediately.