Europe is ready to finalize security guarantees for Ukraine in January, says Euractiv
Illustrative photo: Europe prepares final security guarantees for Ukraine (Getty Images)
Allies of Ukraine will meet in January to finalize security guarantees following a ceasefire. They will also discuss the possibility of deploying foreign troops on Ukrainian territory, Euractiv reports.
According to a source from the Élysée Palace, the initiative is being implemented within the framework of the so-called Coalition of the Willing — a group of countries ready to assume specific security commitments for Ukraine after the active phase of the war ends.
These statements come amid new negotiations between Washington and Kyiv, which resulted in a 20-point plan to end the war, now submitted for Moscow’s consideration.
The Élysée Palace emphasized that Ukraine, Europe, and the United States share a common position and are now awaiting a clear response from Russia.
"We believe it is now up to Russia to provide a clear answer," the source said.
It is expected that the agreed guarantees will be clearly defined from an operational perspective, so that Ukraine has a clear understanding of the format and scope of long-term support.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Dozens of countries, led by France and the UK, have been working for several months on security guarantees for Ukraine. Discussions include troop presence, financial aid, weapons supplies, and other mechanisms to deter Russia from renewed aggression.
At the same time, some guarantees, particularly from the US, are still under discussion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized the need for legally binding security guarantees.
Zelenskyy is expected to visit Mar-a-Lago in the near future for a meeting with Donald Trump. According to sources, key elements of the future security plan for Ukraine may be agreed upon there.
In November, the US presented an updated peace plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. The initial version of the document contained 28 points and largely favored Moscow, so it was later revised and reduced to 20 provisions.
The most contentious issue remains the territorial question. The US side has proposed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbas — an idea that President Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president stressed that a fair starting point for a ceasefire could be fixing the current positions along the front line.
Zelenskyy also noted that the duration of security guarantees between Ukraine and the US is not yet being discussed. He insists, however, that the relevant document be approved by the US Congress.
On Tuesday, December 23, the Ukrainian president stated that Kyiv maintains a continuous dialogue with Washington and hopes to continue working on a peace agreement.
