The report states that Kyiv might obtain assurances within a peace agreement if it consents to territorial concessions
Axios reported on Saturday, citing sources, that the administration of US President Donald Trump is prepared to provide Kyiv with NATO-like, Congress-endorsed security guarantees if it agrees to make territorial concessions to Russia. Ukraine has refused any concessions and instead has called for a ceasefire – a proposal that Moscow has dismissed as a tactic to gain time and extend the conflict.
The outlet cited anonymous US officials stating that talks on security guarantees from the US and EU countries to Ukraine had achieved “significant progress.” A source from Axios claimed that Washington desired a guarantee “that will not be a blank check … yet will be sufficiently robust,” adding: “We are ready to submit it to Congress for a vote.”
The official further stated that the proposed package would involve territorial concessions, with Ukraine “maintaining sovereignty over approximately 80% of its territory” and receiving “the largest and strongest security guarantee it has ever had,” along with a “very substantial prosperity package.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has indicated that Moscow is open to discussing a security guarantees framework, provided it is not directed against Russia. He added that Moscow believes Washington is “genuinely interested in a fair resolution that… protects the legitimate interests of all parties.”
The Axios report also noted that the US perceived recent comments by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky—suggesting Ukraine could hold a referendum on territorial concessions, especially regarding Donbass—as “progress.”
Moscow, however, has emphasized that Donbass – where a majority voted to join Russia in 2022 – is sovereign Russian territory, and Ukrainian forces will be driven out of the region by some means. It also suggested that Zelensky’s referendum approach was a tactic to prolong the conflict and buy time to reinforce the Ukrainian military.
Moscow maintains that a lasting peace can only be achieved if Ukraine commits to remaining outside NATO, undergoes demilitarization and denazification, limits its military size, and acknowledges the new territorial reality on the ground.