Security guarantees for Ukraine are emerging this week as a central component to any deal that might end the long war between Russia and Ukraine.

When the war started in 2022, Ukraine had hoped to enter NATO, which would have given it Article 5 assurances under which an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on every member.

NATO membership is now on hold, but President Trump’s point person for talks with the Kremlin, Steve Witkoff, has said that the U.S. could participate in “Article 5-like protections” for Ukraine.

Trump on Monday called it a significant step that Russia had agreed that the U.S. and European countries could provide Ukraine with security guarantees, but he appeared to keep any assurances vague and downplayed the possibility of the guarantees being on par with NATO.

“I don't know if you define it that way — NATO-like,” said Trump, who met at the White House on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders.

A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow rejects ideas for putting troops from NATO member states on Ukrainian soil.

Zelensky wants as much of a guarantee as he can get after his country has been repeatedly attacked by Russia.

“Everything,” Zelensky said, giving his interpretation of what should be included in the guarantees. Everything could include Western troops on the ground, intelligence sharing and a commitment to deliver military equipment.

There are various schools of thought on what U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine could or should look like.

“Article 5 is not a be all and end all. It is intentionally vague,” said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow with the Brookings Institution who authored a piece in 2024 about........

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