Security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO: Details of the US agreement
In a significant development that could redraw the geopolitical map of the conflict in Eastern Europe, a senior US official revealed on Monday the outlines of an imminent strategic agreement between the United States and Ukraine. The official confirmed that the agreement currently under negotiation includes "strong security guarantees" for Kyiv, essentially equivalent to the collective defense guarantee that NATO to its members.
Details of guarantees and Article Five
The official, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the talks, explained that the agreement is based primarily on strict defense commitments. He said, "The agreement includes truly strong guarantees, similar to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, as well as a very strong deterrent through the provision of advanced weaponry to Ukraine.".
The reference to Article 5 marks a significant turning point in the Western position. This article of the NATO treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one member state is considered an attack against all members, thus requiring a collective response. Granting Ukraine similar guarantees outside the framework of full membership represents a strategic compromise that Kyiv has long sought to ensure its future security against any renewed Russian threats.
Tangible progress in the Berlin negotiations
In conjunction with these statements, Ukraine’s chief negotiator and defense minister Rustam Umarov announced on Monday that real progress had been made in talks with the US side on the plan aimed at ending the Ukrainian-Russian war .
Umarov's remarks came after a closed and crucial meeting held in the German capital, Berlin, where he wrote on his official X platform account: "The negotiations between Ukraine and the United States were constructive and fruitful, with real progress being made. We hope to reach an agreement that brings us closer to peace by the end of this day.".
Strategic dimensions and impact of the agreement
These developments are of paramount importance in the current international context, as Western powers seek to establish a sustainable security environment in Eastern Europe that prevents future conflicts. The signing of a bilateral security guarantees agreement between Washington and Kyiv would send a strong deterrent message to Moscow, demonstrating that Western support for Ukraine is not merely temporary military aid, but a long-term strategic commitment.
Historically, Ukraine has suffered from the weakness of previous security guarantees, such as the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which it relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for pledges of respect for its sovereignty—pledges that have not withstood subsequent geopolitical challenges. Therefore, moving toward NATO-backed guarantees represents a correction to the trajectory of security relations and an attempt to establish a new balance of power that will compel all parties to engage more seriously in negotiations to end the ongoing war.
