Trump Administration Seeks NATO Article 5 Security Guarantees for Kyiv, Witkoff Meets Zelensky in Berlin

Negotiations over security guarantees for Kyiv are accelerating, with the Today article saying the Trump administration would provide a mechanism based on NATO’s Article 5 that would be submitted to the approval of the Congress and described as legally binding.

“Zelenskyy sends message to Putin through billionaire Abramovich on peace talks: Report Ukraine sought to demonstrate its commitment to direct peace talks with Moscow, Financial Times says Kanyshai Butun 07 June 2026•Update: 07 June 2026 ISTANBUL Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich during a visit to Kyiv last month to convey a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he was prepared to meet for what would be their first bilateral summit, the Financial Times reported Sunday”

Anadolu Ajansı

The Today piece quotes a U.S. official saying, "Vogliamo dare agli ucraini una garanzia di sicurezza che non sia un assegno in bianco da un lato, ma che sia sufficientemente solida dall'altro", framing the proposal as more than an open-ended promise.

Anadolu Ajansı

It adds that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will meet this weekend in Berlin with European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky, while Washington is pushing for an agreement to end the war with Russia by the end of the year.

The same article says the decision by the EU to block permanently the "oltre 200 miliardi di euro di asset russi "congelati"" is not to Washington’s liking, but that Donald Trump said he had spoken of "numerosi progressi" and replied "Lo sapremo presto" when asked if a deal would be soon.

In parallel, the Today report says Witkoff will also meet on Monday 15 December with the "volenterosi" in E3 format (France, Britain and Germany).

While talks over guarantees move through European capitals, the Jerusalem Post reports that Volodymyr Zelensky asked Russian Jewish oligarch Roman Abramovich to tell Vladimir Putin that Kyiv was ready for direct talks.

The Jerusalem Post says Zelensky invited Abramovich to Kyiv for what would be their first bilateral summit since the war began over four years ago, and it notes Putin appeared to corroborate the account by saying he met “one of the representatives of our business circles,” and “this, shall we say, colleague,” on Friday.

DIE WELT

It also records Putin’s position that he had "no interest in meeting Zelensky or saw any point in doing so," adding that he said, “The only sense in it is for the Ukrainians to stop the advance of our armed forces,”.

The Anadolu Ajansı report similarly says Zelensky sent the message through Abramovich during a visit to Kyiv last month and that Zelensky’s office declined to comment while the Kremlin and Abramovich’s spokesperson did not immediately respond.

Anadolu Ajansı quotes a person close to Zelensky saying, “I don’t think anything substantial will happen until the end of summer,” as it describes Putin’s stated view that there is “no sense” in holding a meeting with Zelenskyy.

As diplomacy churns, DW reports that Ukraine hit St. Petersburg again with a fresh barrage of long-range Ukrainian drones on Saturday as an international economic forum in the city came to a close.

“The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in London with European allies, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU)”

DIE WELT

DW says Alexander Drosdenko, governor of the Leningrad Region, told residents that air defenses shot down 141 drones in an "unprecedented attack," while municipal governor Alexander Beglov wrote on Telegram, "There may be interruptions to mobile internet,".

DW also reports that the nearby island of Kronstadt in the Gulf of Finland was targeted and that a fire was caused there, while the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claimed it had hit missile and ammunition arsenals.

In London, DW says Zelenskyy described the strikes as a "just response" to continued Russian aggression and that the Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 249 of 272 Russian drones launched against Ukraine overnight.

Meanwhile, DIE WELT reports that after Zelenskyy met European allies in London, participants published a list of five prerequisites for a “just and lasting peace,” including an “immediate and complete ceasefire” and “robust and legally binding” security guarantees as soon as a ceasefire comes into effect.