U.S. President Donald Trump could extend NATO-style protection to Ukraine, a proposal Russia has not outright rejected, according to his envoy to Moscow. The revelation comes just days after Trump’s high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to Russia, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that “the United States could offer Article 5 protection,” a reference to NATO’s core defense principle, an attack on one is an attack on all. For the first time, Russia did not dismiss such a proposal.
The offer would represent the most significant U.S. security commitment to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, which triggered Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years.
From Alaska to Washington: Building Momentum
Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both present during Friday’s closed-door Trump-Putin talks, said progress was made but much remains unfinished. Rubio noted that the ultimate goal is a three-way summit involving Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Ultimately, where this should lead is to a meeting between the three leaders … where we can finalize,” Rubio told CNN. “But we got to get this thing closer before we get to that point.”
Trump, in a cryptic social media post, added fuel to speculation, writing: “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!”
“BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/LhOyYHKWxC
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 17, 2025
Russia’s Surprising Flexibility
Putin, standing beside Trump in Alaska, acknowledged that Ukraine’s security “must be ensured by all means,” and expressed willingness to explore guarantees outside of NATO.
Witkoff later told Fox News that Moscow even agreed to legislate against seizing more Ukrainian territory after any peace settlement—a move that, if formalized, would mark a drastic reversal of Russia’s expansionist strategy. Still, the Kremlin remains firmly opposed to Western troops on Ukrainian soil.
Security Guarantees Under Consideration
Rubio suggested that a U.S. commitment to defend Ukraine, something Trump’s MAGA base has long resisted, could form part of a deal.
“It would be a very big move by the president,” Rubio told Fox News, describing it as proof that Trump “values peace” enough to risk political backlash.
Talks in Washington on Monday with Zelenskiy and European allies are expected to hammer out the framework for such guarantees, which could later be presented to Russia as part of a larger peace package.
The Difficult Road Ahead
Sources familiar with the negotiations say Trump and Putin explored territorial trade-offs, including Russia surrendering minor occupied areas in exchange for Ukraine ceding fortified zones in the east. But Rubio admitted neither side will get “everything they want.”
“If one side gets everything, that’s not a peace deal—it’s surrender,” he said, cautioning that compromise is the only realistic path. Should talks fail, Rubio warned that existing U.S. sanctions on Russia would remain, and potentially intensify.
Monday’s Washington meeting could set the stage for the first direct trilateral talks since the war began. While hurdles remain, ranging from borders and military alliances to U.S. domestic politics—the possibility of Article 5-like protection for Ukraine signals that the conflict may be entering a new, decisive phase.
