On Sunday, August 17, 2025, Ukraine and its allies participated in a virtual meeting as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for a significant discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., scheduled for the following day. The meeting involved the "Coalition of the Willing," a coalition committed to supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office confirmed his participation in this discussion, though it did not indicate he would be involved in the talks with Trump.
During the conference, Prime Minister Carney, along with other coalition members, acknowledged President Trump's leadership in creating opportunities to end Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. The coalition expressed gratitude for the United States' willingness to provide security guarantees that would complement their support for long-term stability in Ukraine and Europe, according to Carney’s office.
Donald Trump, who had recently returned from unsuccessful peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, hinted at potential progress on social media, stating, "BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!" His upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy is anticipated to involve European leaders and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
A member of the Trump administration revealed to CNN that Putin had agreed to allow the U.S. and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee akin to NATO's collective defense mechanism, as part of a deal intended to conclude the ongoing war. Steve Witkoff, one of the participants in the Alaska talks, described this concession by Russia as "game-changing," although he provided few specifics on how the new security arrangement would be structured.
NATO's Article 5 stipulates that an attack on any one of its 31 member nations is considered an attack on all. This clause has only been invoked once in NATO’s history, following the September 11 attacks in the United States. Ukraine has pursued NATO membership for several years, with the alliance agreeing in 2023 to establish a pathway to membership that would only be enabled once the conflict with Russia is resolved. However, Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine's inclusion in NATO, and recent signals from Trump’s administration suggest that NATO membership would not be a viable option in the peace negotiations.
Witkoff referred to the proposed security assurance from Putin as "Article 5-like protection," emphasizing its importance in Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership. Both Zelenskyy and European allies have made it clear that any peace agreement must include a robust security guarantee.
Zelenskyy articulated this sentiment during a press briefing in Brussels, stating that the absence of detailed frameworks regarding the roles of the U.S., Europe, and the EU in implementing this security assurance remains a priority. He asserted the necessity for practical security assurances that operate similarly to NATO's Article 5.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who appeared alongside Zelenskyy in Brussels, welcomed the announcements originating from the White House. She expressed enthusiasm for President Trump’s readiness to engage in providing Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine, affirming the coalition, including the European Union, is prepared to fulfill its obligations in this regard.
