Donald Trump, from inside the White House on Sunday, posted on Truth Social just ten words: “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT!”
But while six whole hours passed without an update from him, the White House wasn’t staying quiet. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, went live on CNN that same day and revealed what was actually happening behind Trump’s tease.
According to CNN, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to let both the United States and European allies provide “Article 5-like protection” to Ukraine. That deal, if locked in, would be a massive concession by Moscow.
Witkoff said clearly, “We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article Five-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO.” He stressed this was the first time they had ever heard Russia agree to something like that.
It means that the U.S. and Europe could now stand behind Ukraine without needing NATO to officially let Kyiv in. Under NATO’s actual Article 5, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. This new deal offers that kind of defense, without NATO membership.
Witkoff explains Putin’s change and Ukraine responds
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded on Sunday through the Associated Press, saying she welcomes the security guarantees and that the European Union is ready to do its share.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also responded quickly on X, calling it a “historic decision that the United States is ready to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine.” He added that those guarantees need to be practical and include protection on land, in the air, and at sea, with full European participation.
This all came after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, a summit that was seen as risky from the beginning. But following that session, Trump switched gears.
Instead of pushing only for a ceasefire, the president is now after a broader peace agreement. That’s a big difference, and it’s already bringing out reactions inside the country.
Pence urges Trump to add sanctions during peace push
Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, also showed up on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday and said Trump can’t afford to be soft anymore. He told Jake Tapper that it’s time for Trump to “bring the hammer” on Putin with secondary sanctions.
Pence said Trump’s diplomatic style has often been a “velvet glove” approach, but insisted, “the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately.” He called for economic pressure that could damage Russia’s economy while keeping up support for Ukraine.
Pence added, “The last thing we want to see is for Putin to use this latest delay as a reason to continue this war all the way until the winter hits and the fighting season essentially passes in that part of the world.” He warned that if sanctions aren’t prepared now, Putin will use time as a weapon.
“The sanctions ought to be on the president’s desk, available for his signature while negotiations begin,” he said. “That’s the most important way that we will ensure that there’s real progress toward the peace agreement.”
Pence also pulled from past history to explain his stance. He listed how Putin attacked Georgia under George W. Bush, took Crimea under Barack Obama, and launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine after Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He said none of that should be ignored now. Pence told Tapper that Putin’s goal is to rebuild the old Soviet sphere of influence, and that “Putin only understands strength.” He made it clear that he doesn’t think Russia will stop unless it is forced to.
Still, Pence said Trump should be credited for continuing peace efforts in Ukraine and reminded viewers that Trump has already helped secure agreements in Africa, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. He said, “There are many voices in and around the administration that would have cut Ukraine loose months ago.”
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