Security guarantees for Ukraine require readiness to confront Russia – Stubb
Photo: Finnish President Alexander Stubb (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The security guarantees for Ukraine being discussed by the Coalition of the willing would mean that the European countries signing them commit to fight Russia if Moscow launches new military action against Ukraine, according to an interview by Finnish President Alexander Stubb with The Guardian.
Essence of security guarantees for Ukraine
"Security guarantees in essence are a deterrent. That deterrent has to be plausible and in order for it to be plausible it has to be strong," Stubb said ahead of his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly.
He stressed that the guarantees would only take effect after a future agreement between Ukraine and Russia, but underlined that Moscow would have no veto power over their format.
However, The Guardian notes, a key question in Kyiv is whether these arrangements will be backed by concrete commitments. Asked whether the guarantees would mean that European countries are declaring readiness to engage militarily with Russia in the event of future aggression against Ukraine, Stubb replied: "That is the idea of security guarantees by definition."
Finland–US relations
When asked whether the time might come for Europe to acknowledge the unreliability of the US as a negotiating partner on Ukraine, Stubb said his country had no choice but to maintain as close a relationship as possible with the Trump administration.
"I think it’s the job of the president of Finland to get along with the president of the United States, whoever he is," said Stubb. "Foreign policy is always based on three pillars. It’s values, interests and power. Small states only have values and interests … but we can have influence instead of power. Engagement is better than disengagement, come hell or high water," he added.
Regarding security guarantees, the Finnish president said that for them to have real weight, an "American backstop" was necessary, while admitting there was still no clear understanding of what commitments the Trump administration was prepared to make.
Still, the report notes, talk of guarantees could remain hypothetical unless progress is first made toward a negotiated end to the war.
Talks between Zelenskyy and Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to discuss security guarantees with US President Donald Trump in the coming days during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
The high-level week of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session runs from September 23 to 29.
Also scheduled in New York are a summit on the return of Ukrainian children and the Crimea Platform.
