The United States has agreed to offer security guarantees to Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year war, following fresh discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, US officials told the Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity.
According to the officials, talks involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner helped narrow differences over the security assurances sought by Kyiv, as well as Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede territory in the eastern Donbas region. US President Donald Trump also joined negotiators and European leaders via a call during a dinner meeting on Monday evening. Further rounds of talks are expected this weekend, possibly in Miami or another US location.
Trump later said an agreement to end the war was closer than ever. “I think we’re closer now than we have been at any time,” he told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had held “very long and very good talks” with Zelenskyy and several European leaders, including those of Britain, France, Germany and NATO.
US officials said about 90 per cent of the American-drafted peace framework has already found broad agreement. They added that Russia has indicated openness to Ukraine joining the European Union, and that any eventual security arrangement would be sent to the US Senate for approval.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was wide consensus among Ukraine, the United States and European partners that any ceasefire must be supported by strong legal and material security guarantees. Zelenskyy described the discussions as substantive but acknowledged that key differences remain, particularly over occupied territories.
Despite the diplomatic push, fighting continued on the ground. Ukraine reported overnight Russian drone attacks, while Russia said it intercepted Ukrainian drones, including several over Moscow.
