Zelenskyy rules out Budapest-style deal, vows only strong agreement for Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
Plans to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees must become real guarantees of protection against a new Russian attack. Ukraine does not need a new “Budapest Memorandum” - a worthless piece of paper, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s New Year’s address.
Zelenskyy stressed that security guarantees for Ukraine must be ratified by the US Congress, the parliaments of partner countries, and everyone willing to provide them - and, crucially, they must actually work.
“A Budapest piece of paper will not satisfy Ukraine. We do not need a Minsk-style, meticulously drafted trap. Signatures under weak agreements only fuel the war. My signature will be under a strong agreement. And that is exactly what every meeting, every call, and every decision is about right now,” Zelenskyy assured.
According to him, this is exactly what can ensure a strong and lasting peace - peace for many years that would meet Ukraine’s expectations.
“Only then will it be a real success - for Ukraine, for America, for Europe, and for every nation that truly wants to live, not to fight,” the president concluded.
Following his meeting with US President Donald Trump on December 28, Zelenskyy said the peace plan was 90% agreed, while US security guarantees were finalized at 100%. According to media reports, Trump is ready to approve these guarantees through the US Congress.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on December 30 that the US had, for the first time, declared its readiness to provide Ukraine with security guarantees. These could include the presence of US troops on Ukrainian territory.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported that Ukraine’s allies will meet in January to finalize security guarantees. In particular, discussions will focus on the possible deployment of foreign troops in the country. Overall, within the first six months after the end of the war, partners are prepared to deploy up to 15,000 soldiers in Ukraine.
