US officials say Ukraine peace talks made ‘Real Progress’, with security guarantees at core

US officials said on Monday that negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine advanced significantly during two days of talks in Berlin, citing substantial agreement on security guarantees, economic reconstruction and a narrowing of disputes over territory.

Speaking on a background press call, officials said the US delegation spent more than eight hours directly with President Volodymyr Zelensky and held extensive meetings with European leaders, including national security advisers and foreign ministers from Germany, the UK, and France.

One official described the talks as “really, really positive in almost every respect,” adding that negotiators “got consensus on a number of issues that we view as critical to getting to a peace deal.”

“Platinum standard” security guarantees take center stage

US officials said the most consequential progress came on a sweeping security package for Ukraine, described repeatedly as the strongest ever proposed.

“This is the most robust set of security protocols they have ever seen,” one official said, calling it “a very, very strong package.”

Officials said the guarantees are “Article 5–like,” but go further, incorporating military oversight, verification, deterrence and deconfliction mechanisms. Another official described the framework as “the platinum standard for what can be offered.”

According to US officials, the proposal would require US Senate approval, and President Donald Trump is prepared to seek ratification. “It would have to go before the Senate, and President Trump is willing to do that,” one official emphasized.

That commitment surprised both Ukrainian and European participants, officials said, particularly given the expectation that Russia could ultimately accept NATO-style guarantees short of formal NATO membership.

No US troops, but extensive military coordination

While declining to release full details, US officials stressed that the security guarantees would not involve American troops deployed in Ukraine.

“These are not conceptual discussions,” one official said, emphasizing that the documents are “now very in-depth” and “basically agreed to at the working level.”

The goal, officials said, is to ensure that “anything that we felt needed to be addressed to make the Ukrainian people feel safe is included in this package.”

Europe “all in” on ending the war

US officials repeatedly praised European partners for their engagement, describing them as “absolutely outstanding.”

“Everybody has been dug in to try to end this conflict,” one official said, citing close coordination with Germany, the UK, France, Poland, Italy, and the Nordic countries.

European leaders, officials said, see Ukraine as “critical to their security,” and expressed appreciation for Trump’s willingness to offer binding guarantees.

Economic rebuilding and frozen assets

Officials said talks also covered Ukraine’s long-term financial survival, including a reconstruction plan involving BlackRock and the World Bank.

“There’s a great plan being put together as to how to bring people back to the country, how to make sure there’s a good, transparent government,” one official said.

Discussions included Ukraine’s budgetary needs, military sustainment, compensation for families affected by the war, and ways to use frozen Russian assets for reconstruction “through an agreement.”

Territory: progress, but not final decisions

Territorial questions – including occupied regions – remain unresolved, but US officials said the gap has narrowed.

“We’ve moved considerably closer in narrowing the issues between Ukrainians and the Russians,” one official said, noting that a working group draft found consensus on roughly 90 percent of identified issues.

Ideas discussed included economic free zones and phased approaches, with final sovereignty decisions left for Kyiv and Moscow. Officials said President Zelensky would need to consult with his own team before responding to proposals described as “thought-provoking ideas.”

What comes next

US officials said the next steps could include additional working-level meetings in the US and potential travel to Russia if needed.

“We are under instructions to do what it takes to help facilitate, on behalf of President Trump, a lasting and durable peace,” one official said.

Officials framed the effort as an attempt to permanently halt Russian westward expansion and create a framework durable enough to prevent future conflict.

“Hopefully we are on the path to peace,” one official said, adding that the administration believes “there’s a lot of good things that can happen” if the deal is completed./KyvPost.