Ukraine peace talks progressing, Russia open to EU membership: U.S.

American officials said Monday that a deal with Ukrainian leaders to end its war with Russia was nearly complete, even as territorial disputes remain unresolved and a strong security guarantee from the United States and European countries remains a sticking point.

President Donald Trump‘s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on Monday joined negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, which began Sunday.

U.S. officials in a call with reporters said that Zelenskyy, who on Sunday agreed to drop his goal of joining NATO, insists on so-called Article Five-like security protections as part of a peace deal.

Article Five of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member nation is interpreted as an attack against all.

American officials said any such assurance from the U.S. would require congressional approval.

“We believe the Russians, in a final deal, will accept all these things, which will allow for a … strong and free Ukraine,” one official said.

The official added that the Russians were open to Ukraine joining the European Union.

Officials said that about 90% of the issues between Ukraine and Russia have been resolved.

“But there’s some more things that have to be worked out,” an official said.