European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to provide Ukraine with security guarantees modeled on NATO's Article 5 mutual defense commitment. Von der Leyen described the goal as making Ukraine a "steel porcupine," resilient and indigestible to potential invaders, emphasizing the importance of allied unity and strong security assurances. This development follows a NATO summit where the largest trade deal was agreed upon, and European and U.S. leaders expressed commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine to end the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance highlighted that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war focus on Ukraine's security guarantees and territorial demands from Russia, including areas not currently occupied by Russian forces. Vance stated that European countries must bear the "lion's share" of the financial and security responsibilities in any peace arrangement, underscoring that it is Europe's continent and security at stake. President Trump has indicated that Europe would lead in protecting any peace deal reached to resolve the conflict.