Ukraine Backs US Peace Plan with 'Article 5-like' Guarantees; Will Putin Engage?

• Ukraine supports a new US-backed peace proposal, developed during Berlin talks with American and European officials, to end the war.
• The US administration, for the first time under Trump, has pledged "Article 5-like" security guarantees for Ukraine, similar to NATO's collective defense.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy insists on legally binding security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
• Russia, however, shows little room for compromise, rejecting previous peace initiatives and reiterating maximalist demands including retaining occupied territory.
• The issue of territory, particularly Donbas, remains the biggest obstacle, with a wide gap between Ukraine's and Russia's positions.

Why It Matters: Ukraine accepts US peace plan with security guarantees, but Russia's maximalist demands threaten its success.