On his most recent visit to Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that such a security agreement with the United States was “100%-ready” to be signed. This announcement followed two days of serious deliberations with heavyweights from Ukraine, US, and Russia. The talks, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, aim to solidify Ukraine’s security framework amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
At a press conference Sunday, Zelenskyy said he was hopeful the negotiations were yielding results, that compromises had been reached. He revealed that Ukraine is currently awaiting confirmation from its partners regarding the date and location for the signing of the security agreement.
“For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States. The document is 100% ready, and we are waiting for our partners to confirm the date and place when we will sign it.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine’s deep determination to join the European Union by 2027. He described EU membership as an “economic security guarantee.” He underscored the importance of ensuring that Ukraine secures this status to strengthen its defenses against future aggression from Russia.
The talks revealed deep divides between the Ukrainian and Russian negotiators, especially when it came to talk of territory. Zelenskyy made it clear that these matters were major roadblocks in getting to an all-encompassing deal. He put particular emphasis on tackling these challenges as part of their comprehensive security strategy.
Zelenskyy specifically asked for greater air defense support to Ukraine from their allies. He added that, while progress has been made, Europe cannot let its guard down while Russia still wages war on Ukraine.
“It is too early for Europe to relax while Russia’s war machine is still running, and while dictators around Europe are not weakening,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy’s words strike an ominous chord with growing alarm across Europe about emerging new security realities in the region. He called on European nations to be more aware and appreciate their freedom after the lessons taught by Russia’s past attacks.
Following the potential signing of the security guarantees document, Zelenskyy noted that it would be presented to both the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament for ratification. This move is a sign of Ukraine’s desire to maintain robust international backing while facing internal and ever-evolving geopolitical pressures.