Russia Opens Door to Ukraine EU Membership in Potential Peace Deal, US Officials Reveal

In a significant development, US officials have revealed that Russia is open to Ukraine joining the European Union as part of a potential peace deal to end the ongoing conflict. This concession comes as part of a 90% agreed-upon US-authored peace plan, with negotiations between US and Ukrainian envoys making progress on key issues such as security guarantees and territorial concessions. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the offer of EU membership would be a major concession by Moscow, but Russia has previously indicated it does not object to Ukraine's accession. The US has also agreed to provide unspecified security guarantees to Ukraine as part of the deal, although these guarantees are not permanent. The latest round of talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have achieved 'real progress,' according to Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov. The talks, which lasted around 90 minutes, followed a five-hour session on Sunday. However, major obstacles remain, including control of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, which is largely occupied by Russian forces. Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to drop Ukraine's bid to join NATO if the US and other Western nations provide security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members. The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine renounce its bid for alliance membership as part of any prospective peace settlement. The issue of security will ultimately determine whether the war subsides or flares up again, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesperson. The Russian president has cast Ukraine's bid to join NATO as a major threat to Moscow's security, and the Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine renounce the bid as part of any peace settlement. The negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days, with US officials planning to put forward the security guarantees agreement before the Senate for approval. The Kremlin has stated that it expects to be updated on the talks by the US side and has emphasized its openness to a serious peace deal. Meanwhile, the UK's new head of the MI6 spy agency has warned of the growing threat posed by Russia's determination to export chaos around the world. Drone strikes continue to plague Ukraine, with Russia firing 153 drones overnight, of which 133 were neutralized, while 17 hit their targets.