Ukraine and US have differences on security guarantees — Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine and the US currently disagree on the timeline for providing Kyiv with security guarantees after a ceasefire with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference.
According to the Ukrainian president, the US offers security guarantees for a significantly shorter period than Ukraine requires, and Kyiv does not agree to such terms.
"Today, we have a proposal from the US for security guarantees for 15 years. We want more than 20 years—30, 50 years. What the administration and Congress will agree to, we'll see," he said.
Security guarantees for Ukraine: Key points
Earlier at the conference, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that without clear international security guarantees, any agreements to end the war could be temporary and would not prevent new Russian aggression, noting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a "slave to war."
He also stressed that the security framework for Ukraine should include EU membership and a long-term mechanism to deter Russia.
Ukraine, the US, and European partners have agreed on an action plan in case Moscow violates a potential peace deal. The plan is divided into three phases, each to be executed within the first 72 hours of a new Russian attack on Ukraine.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that, after a peace agreement, Ukraine could immediately receive support from Alliance member states, including troops, aviation, and naval components from countries willing to participate in security guarantees.
