Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that no country, except European states, provides Kyiv with real security guarantees, including financial support for the army, the foundation of the country’s defense. Therefore, European leaders must be present at key international meetings, UkrInform reports.
His statement came ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 15 August in Alaska. The meeting will focus on the end of Russia's war against Ukraine. One possible subject of discussion is the ceding of part of Ukrainian territory to Russia. At the same time, there is no hint of any security guarantees that the West might offer to prevent another Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy's plan: ceasefire, negotiations, and security guarantees
The Ukrainian president has presented his simple and clear plan to end the war: first, a ceasefire, followed by negotiations mediated by the US with clear security guarantees from all parties.
“My plan is not that complicated. It is very simple: a ceasefire, and during the ceasefire we must discuss and resolve the issues… with clear security guarantees,” Zelenskyy stresses.
The importance of Ukraine's participation in the upcoming negotiations
The president announced that on 13 August, there will be a series of online negotiations with European leaders, US and NATO representatives, ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.
“Such sensitive issues concerning Ukraine must be discussed in Ukraine’s presence,” Zelenskyy emphasizes.
These negotiations aim to coordinate a common position regarding peace, security guarantees, and support for Ukraine in the ongoing diplomatic process.
Earlier, the study showed that Europe leads in military aid for Ukraine, surpassing the US. According to research by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker, European countries have become the main donors of support to Ukraine, allocating over 35 billion euros for weapons procurement.
This sum is 4.4 billion euros more than the US has spent on the defense of Ukraine over more than three years of Russia's aggression.
