President Donald Trump started the week declaring a diplomatic breakthrough in his bid to get Russia and Ukraine closer to making peace, announcing he had begun arranging for direct talks between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to make “some compromise” on his demand that a ceasefire takes place before any talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin – as long as some security guarantees for Ukraine are established.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday that the security guarantees agreement for Ukraine will consist of two layers: strengthening Ukraine’s army and commitments from the US and Europe aimed at deterring Russia in the event of future aggression.

NATO's top military officials emerged from talks without a concrete plan to guarantee Ukraine's security – at least not one they were willing to discuss publicly.

NATO defense chiefs have discussed potential security guarantees for Ukraine to help end Russia’s three-year war