Putin agreed to ‘robust’ security guarantees for Ukraine, says US envoy

Asya Robins and George WrightBBC NewsReutersDonald Trump’s particular envoy mentioned Russia had agreed to permit the US and Europe to present Ukraine “strong” safety ensures as a part of a possible peace deal.Steve Witkoff advised CNN it was agreed on the Alaska summit that the US and Europe may “successfully supply Article 5-like language to cowl a safety assure”, referring to Nato’s precept that an assault on one member is an assault on all.Putin has lengthy opposed Ukraine becoming a member of Nato, and Witkoff mentioned the association could possibly be another if the Ukrainians “can reside with it”.Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described the US’s safety assure supply as “historic” forward of talks with Trump and European leaders on Monday.Talking forward of his go to to Washington DC, Zelensky mentioned any assure “should actually be very sensible, delivering safety on land, within the air, and at sea, and have to be developed with Europe’s participation”.In the meantime, following a gathering on Sunday of the “coalition of the prepared” – a gaggle of countries together with the UK, France and Germany which have pledged to guard peace in Ukraine as soon as it’s achieved – a No10 spokesman mentioned leaders had recommended Trump’s “dedication” to offering safety ensures.The leaders additionally “re-emphasised the readiness to deploy a reassurance pressure as soon as hostilities have ceased, and to assist safe Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces”, the spokesman added.UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary-Common Mark Rutte are set to affix Zelensky in Washington on Monday.Macron mentioned the group would problem Trump on how far he was prepared to go when it comes to safety ensures. “If we’re not robust right this moment, we’ll pay dearly tomorrow,” he mentioned, including the group’s plan was to “current a united entrance”.EPAWitkoff additionally advised CNN on Sunday that Russia had made “some concessions on the desk” about territory, noting Donetsk could be a part of an “vital dialogue” on Monday.It comes after Putin reportedly offered Trump with a peace supply in Alaska on Friday that will require Ukraine withdrawing from the Donetsk area of the Donbas, in return for Russia freezing the entrance strains in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.The BBC’s US associate CBS cited diplomatic sources as saying that European officers have been involved Trump could attempt to press Zelensky to comply with the phrases.Russia claims the Donbas as Russian territory, controlling most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk. It additionally illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, eight years earlier than launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Zelensky on Tuesday mentioned Ukraine would reject any Russian proposal to surrender the Donbas area, warning it could possibly be used as a springboard for future assaults.He has additionally pointed to the nation’s structure, which requires a referendum earlier than a change in its territory.Watch: How the Trump-Putin summit unfolded… in below 2 minutesMonday’s White Home assembly will likely be Zelensky’s first since an acrimonious public change within the Oval Workplace in February, when Trump advised him to be extra “grateful” for US assist and accused him of “playing with World Conflict Three”. Zelensky was then advised to depart the White Home.He appeared to reconcile with Trump in April, in what the White Home described as a “very productive” 15-minute assembly earlier than they attended Pope Francis’s funeral.Ukraine has additionally signed a minerals deal that gave the US a monetary stake within the nation, and Kyiv made it clear they have been prepared to pay for US arms.However there could have been concern in Kyiv and different European capitals following the Trump-Putin assembly on Friday.The Russian president, who’s dealing with an Worldwide Prison Courtroom arrest warrant for alleged warfare crimes in Ukraine, stepped off his jet and onto a crimson carpet to be warmly acquired by Trump, who later mentioned that they had a “incredible relationship”.Watch in full: The exceptional change between Zelensky, Vance and Trump