US envoy: Russians make concessions in five areas of Ukraine
According to the special American envoy Steve Witkoff, Moscow has made concessions in five areas in Ukraine. The Russians made certain concessions with regard to all five regions in Eastern Ukraine on Friday with US President Donald Trump. “There is an important discussion about Donetsk and what will happen there,” Witkoff told CNN.
‘Provide Ukraine Article 5-like formulation’
The United States and Russia also agreed during their top in Alaska last week that the US could offer security guarantees to Ukraine, according to Witkoff. “The US and other countries can offer Ukraine an article 5-like formulation,” said Witkoff. With that, the special envoy referred to the NATO provision that states that if one ally is attacked, this is considered an attack on all Member States.
However, NATO membership is a step too far for the Ukrainians, Witkoff said. “Putin says that the red flag is the accession to NATO.”
‘Concessions required for an agreement’
The American foreign minister Marco Rubio in turn emphasizes that Russia and Ukraine will both have to make concessions for peace. From both countries, concessions are needed for an agreement, says Rubio in an interview.
To end the war there are things that Russia wants but not gets, and there are things that Ukraine wants but won’t get, said Rubio.