Moscow [Russia], August 18: Russia has agreed to allow the United States and European allies to provide NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday.
He said the United States was able to get Russia to agree to the US providing Ukraine with NATO-type protection as outlined in Article 5, which says that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
"We moved the Russians significantly past where we thought they were going to end up," Witkoff said.
He said the US "is potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees, but not from NATO, directly from the United States and other European countries. That is big. I mean, really big." For Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's NATO membership is non-negotiable.
Witkoff was at the Friday meeting with Trump and Putin in Alaska along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and two Russian advisers.
Witkoff also noted that Russia has expressed its intention to commit, as part of a peace agreement, to refrain from occupying further territories in Ukraine. Additionally, Russia has pledged not to cross European borders, he saids.
Speaking to CNN, Witkoff emphasized that Russia is showing movement in the negotiations for the first time and is willing to make concessions. "Now we need to build on this and achieve an agreement for the Ukrainians that ensures their self-determination and the protection of their sovereign borders." (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune