Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the U.S. and Europe to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO's collective defense mandate.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also attend, the Alliance’s press service confirmed to Suspilne. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s goal in traveling to Washington is to exchange information with Trump following his Aug.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to travel to Washington to participate in talks between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a number of European leaders, the Alliance confirmed on Sunday 17 August.

Steve Witkoff said it was the first time he had heard the Russian president agree to the suggestion - and called it "game-changing".

I think everybody agreed that we had made progress. Maybe not enough for a peace deal, but we are on the path for the first time,” Witkoff said.