NATO Considers Article 5-Style Deal for Ukraine, Membership Not Discussed

In a significant evolution of Western strategy, Ukraine is now being offered a defense pact modeled on NATO’s core principle, a move that could redefine European security architecture without immediately bringing the war-torn nation into the Atlantic alliance. The revelation came from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who confirmed that while membership talks are off the table for now, serious discussions are underway to provide Kyiv with Article 5 security guarantees Ukraine desperately seeks against Russian aggression.

What Would Article 5-Type Security Guarantees Mean for Ukraine?

This potential deal represents a monumental compromise and a strategic pivot. For Ukraine, an attack on its sovereignty would be treated as an attack on all nations party to this new security agreement, theoretically triggering a collective military response. Rutte, in an interview with Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on August 19, 2025, clarified the delicate situation: “The U.S. and some other countries have said that they are against NATO membership for Ukraine. The official NATO position… is that there is an irreversible path for Ukraine into NATO. But what we are discussing here is not NATO membership, what we are discussing here is Article 5 type of security guarantees.”

This framework appears designed to navigate a complex geopolitical impasse. It offers Ukraine a powerful, tangible security umbrella that honors its constitutional ambition to join the West, while simultaneously addressing the stated objections of key allies and the vehement opposition from Russian President Vladimir Putin, for whom NATO expansion is a red line.

The Geopolitical Calculus Behind the Proposed Deal

The context for these high-stakes negotiations is a whirlwind of diplomatic activity following a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. President Trump subsequently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Rutte, and other European leaders at the White House, describing the talks as “very good.” A key takeaway from these meetings was the explicit assurance that these security guarantees would not involve Western “boots on the ground” in Ukraine, a crucial point likely aimed at managing escalation risks with Moscow.

The proposed guarantees stop short of full NATO membership, which is enshrined in Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty and requires unanimous consent from all existing members. Instead, this new arrangement would be a bespoke, multilateral defense pact between Ukraine and a coalition of willing nations, potentially including the U.S., U.K., and key European powers, acting in concert with NATO’s broader objectives but outside its formal structure.

The bottom line is that the West is forging a new tool for collective defense in real-time. This potential deal for Ukraine offers a powerful deterrent against future Russian aggression and a lifeline for its sovereignty, representing one of the most significant shifts in European security policy since the Cold War. The success of this initiative now hinges on the precise legal wording, the commitment of signing nations, and the unpredictable reaction from the Kremlin. The world watches as diplomats attempt to codify a promise of protection that could finally bring lasting stability to the region.

Must Know

What is NATO’s Article 5?
Article 5 is the collective defense clause in NATO’s founding treaty. It states that an armed attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all, obliging them to take action to assist the ally attacked. It has been invoked only once, following the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

How would Ukraine’s security deal differ from NATO membership?
Full NATO membership is a permanent status granting all rights and protections under the treaty. The proposed deal for Ukraine is a bilateral or multilateral security agreement modeled on Article 5. It would be a standalone pact, likely involving a specific coalition of countries, rather than the entire 32-member NATO alliance.

Why is NATO membership for Ukraine so controversial?
Many Western officials fear that offering Ukraine NATO membership while it is in a hot war with Russia would be seen as a direct provocation by Moscow, drastically escalating the conflict. Some member states also have political reservations about the commitment, making unanimous agreement impossible at this time.

What happens next in these negotiations?
According to Secretary General Rutte, the specifics of what these security guarantees “will entail will now be more specifically discussed.” This involves diplomats from the U.S., Ukraine, and other nations drafting the legal and operational details of the pact, including what triggers a response and what form that response would take.

Did the US and NATO discuss sending troops to Ukraine?
No. Rutte explicitly stated that the discussions on security guarantees did not include any talk of putting “boots on the ground” in Ukraine. The focus is on establishing a deterrence framework.