A draft peace proposal prepared by President Donald Trump would give Ukraine a US-European security guarantee modeled on NATO’s Article 5 – an offer he had never put on the table until now – while requiring Kyiv to surrender additional territory and accept a long-term demilitarized zone, according to documents reviewed by Axios.
A major promise – and a major trade-off
The framework says Washington and key European allies would treat any “significant, deliberate and sustained” Russian attack on Ukraine as a threat to the entire transatlantic community.
In such a case, the US president could authorize military action after consultations with Ukraine, NATO and European partners.
The guarantee would initially last 10 years and could be renewed.
US officials said the text is genuine but stressed that European governments must still weigh in and the language may change.
Zelensky handed two drafts
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll delivered a 28-point outline to President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday describing unspecified “reliable security guarantees.”
At the same meeting, US officials provided a separate draft spelling out the Article 5-style commitment.
That second draft includes signature lines for Ukraine, the United States, the European Union, NATO and Russia.
A senior White House official said Moscow has been briefed, though it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin would have to sign.
Trump’s envoy, real estate executive Steve Witkoff, has been leading work on the plan and discussed the security proposal with Zelensky’s national security adviser Rustem Umerov over the weekend.
The cost for Kyiv
The security pledge is paired with terms that would force Ukraine to make deeper concessions than those currently imposed by Russia’s battlefield gains. According to the draft:
-
Russia would assume control over the entire Donbas region.
-
Lines of control in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would be largely frozen.
-
A demilitarized zone would be set up between Ukrainian and Russian-held areas.
-
No NATO troops would be stationed in Ukraine.
-
Ukraine’s military would be capped at 600,000 personnel – below today’s wartime strength but above its pre-war level.
The proposal also envisions sanctions relief for Russia and its return to international forums, including amnesty measures for war crimes.
Political risk for Trump
The guarantee would mark the most far-reaching US commitment to Ukraine under Trump and could prompt criticism from his America First allies, who oppose entangling the US military in future conflicts.
Still, senior administration officials argue the plan gives Ukraine a stronger deterrent than previously expected from Trump.
What the text says
The draft states that any major Russian attack across an agreed armistice line “shall be regarded as an attack threatening the peace and security of the transatlantic community.”
The US and participating NATO states – including France, the UK, Germany, Poland and Finland – would act “in concert” to respond, potentially using military force.
A joint assessment mechanism with NATO and Ukraine would investigate alleged violations.
Compliance would be overseen by a Joint Monitoring Commission led by European partners with US participation.