Following the latest round of talks with US President Donald Trump’s negotiators, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined the kind of security guarantees that he seeks from the United States and Europe, such as support for a strong army, US backstop to the Coalition of the Willing, and Congressional approval to any US commitments.
Following the latest round of talks with American negotiators, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday outlined the security guarantees that he seeks from the United States and Europe as part of an agreement to end the war with Russia.
In a statement on X, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has sought three-layered security guarantees that support from partners for a strong Ukrainian military, a US backstop to the Coalition of the Willing, and Congressional approval to any US commitments.
Zelenskyy stressed that any US commitments need to be legally binding through Congressional action as Ukraine does not want a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 or Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015 that failed to prevent future aggression.
The statement came ahead of the Ukrainian delegation’s arrival in Kyiv from Miami after holding talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The two sides had described the talks as “productive and constructive”.
In a joint statement, they said the latest round was focussed on aligning positions on the 20-point plan and working out a multilateral security guarantee framework, a US security guarantee framework for Ukraine, and an economic and prosperity plan.
In recent weeks, Trump has ramped up pressure on Ukraine to agree to a proposal to end the war with Ukraine. Currently, Ukraine, with the support of European partners, is negotiating a revised version of the 22-point proposal that would have essentially meant a Ukrainian surrender to Russia and cessation of its nationhood in its original form. On his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected details of the revised plan and stuck to his maximalist demands.
Zelenskyy outlines 3-layered security guarantees
In his statement, Zelenskyy said security guarantees must be three-fol.
Firstly, partners must support the 800,000-strong Ukrainian military, according to Zelenskyy.
Such support would require additional support from partners, Zelenskyy stressed.
Secondly, Zelenskyy said Ukraine must join the European Union to not just secure itself economically but to also join the security component of the bloc.
“Everyone understands this first and foremost in terms of economic security guarantees and markets. There is also a military component, SAFE, and other programs that EU membership opens up,” said Zelenskyy.
Thirdly, Ukraine requires the involvement of the British- and French-led Coalition of the Willing with an American backstop, according to Zelenskyy.
“We will discuss what US backstop is and what specific details it may include — air defense, aviation, intelligence, and more. These are forces that must ensure Ukraine’s security in the air, on land, and at sea,” said Zelenskyy.
As for the American involvement, Zelenskyy said Congressional action is key to ensure any commitment is legally binding on any presidential administration. He said that would be the fundamental difference between previous failed deals like the Budapest Memorandum and Minsk agreements and any deal to settle the ongoing war with Russia.
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